The Planning Board's Monday meeting was briefer than usual, with only two items on the agenda.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — An established livery company is moving into the former Coury's automobile salvage business on Curran Highway and bringing 35 jobs with it.
Coury's closed last fall after nearly 50 years of selling used car parts and automobile services. JP Parent Co. LLC plans to use 858 and 874 Curran Highway as its headquarters for storage and servicing its fleet.
Attorney James Sisto, representing JP Parent, said the company had outgrown its location in Adams and is now leasing the Curran Highway property.
"They plan to move their entire business in, which includes about 30 vehicles and 35 employees to the North Adams location, which I think is a big boon for North Adams," he said.
There are no proposals to change the structures or extend the buildings, or for signage, Sisto said. "It's not going to be open to the public, it's mainly going to be to operate their business. This is where they're going to have their headquarters for all their vehicles."
Planner Kyle Hanlon complimented the applicant on being thorough in filling out the application. "It answered all my questions before the meeting tonight," he said.
The livery, also doing business as E-Pod Transportation, was approved for a special permit with conditions including keeping any car parts, such as tires, under cover.
An application by Woodstock South, a clothing store, to operate in the Norad Mill at 60 Roberts Drive was allowed to withdraw without prejudice at the request of the applicants, in hopes of coming back before the board in the spring.
In other business, Chairman Michael Leary appointed Hanlon and Planner Lynette Bond to the nominating committee for officers for the coming year.
The Redevelopment Authority, meeting immediately prior to the Planning Board and consisting of Chairman Paul Hopkins and members Hanlon, Leary and David Bond, approved an application by Nina Kilroe to open a botanical shop in the Oasis Shopping Center located at 150 American Legion Drive.
Kilroe said she would be selling natural, plant-based herbs and supplements.
"I know you can buy them at the drugstore, a lot of herbs and things, but there's nobody to teach you how to use them properly or safely, and that's something I can do," she said. "Every herb or tea will have information for people to take home and read or give to their primary-care physician so they can make informed decisions about the things they digest."
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McCann and Taconic Awarded CTI Grants
Staff Reports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $525,482 in Career Technical Initiative (CTI) implementation grants awarded to two organizations in the Berkshires to train 80 individuals for careers in high-demand occupations within the trades, construction, and manufacturing sectors in the region.
In North Adams, McCann Technical School was awarded $344,871 to provide training to 60 participants for Automotive Technician, Advanced Manufacturing, and Welding positions. They will partner with T&M Auto Sales Inc., Berkshire Bridge & Iron Co. Inc., Haddad GMC, Haddad Subaru, Bedard Brothers Auto Sales Inc., Lenco Armored Vehicles, TOG Manufacturing, Sinicon Plastics, Adams Plumbing & Heating Inc., and Gills Point S Tire.
"We are excited to be working with our MassHire team to continue to address our workforce needs and build talent pipelines and career pathways in Advanced Manufacturing, Welding and Automotive Technician," McCann Superintendent James Brosnan said. "This CTI award will provide hands-on training and support as we continue to expand our skilled talent pool for employers in the Berkshires."
In Pittsfield Taconic High School was awarded $180,610 to provide training to 20 participants for Metal Fabrication and Auto Technology positions. They will partner with O.W. Landergren Inc., Lenco Industries Inc., Bedard Brothers, Haddad's Auto Group, and RW's Auto Inc.
"Pittsfield Public Schools is incredibly grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Commonwealth Corporation for the CTI award to Taconic High School. This grant will have a significant and lasting impact on our community by providing skilled technicians to address critical shortages in Berkshire County," said Superintendent Joseph Curtis. "We are excited to partner with Lenco Industries, Haddads, Bedards, RW Auto, O.W. Landergren, Northeast Fabricators, and the MassHire Berkshire Career Center. These partnerships will serve as a catalyst for positive change, ensuring that our trainees are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st-century workforce, while simultaneously strengthening our local economy."
The CTI grant program, a state-funded workforce initiative, partners with career and technical education schools to provide adult learners, especially unemployed and underemployed individuals from underserved populations and underrepresented groups, with career training and technical skills to meet the needs of Massachusetts employers. The program transforms career and technical education schools across the state to become "Career Technical Institutes" that run after dark programs in the construction/trades, manufacturing, and skilled trades career pathways.
"Addressing our workforce needs and building talent pipelines and career pathways in construction, trades and manufacturing sectors is a priority for this administration," said Governor Maura Healey. "CTI offers hands-on training that will support our jobseekers, workers and employers. We're proud to expand the CTI awards to these two schools in the Berkshires to strengthen our workforce and grow our economy throughout the state."
Jesse Saylor of TSKP Studio, the school project designer, said the conductivity of the soils were comparable or better than three recent school completed in Connecticut.
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The School Committee earlier this month approved upping the pay scale by $35 to $55 a day and creating a new base of $130 for substitutes with fewer credentials.
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