Lanesborough 2023 Year in Review: Public Safety Building, Yes or No?
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The town continued to grapple with its public safety facility needs, held an election, and saw promise for the shuttered Berkshire Mall in 2023.
Early in the year, Town Administrator Gina Dario began work in her new position. The Adams native had been assistant commissioner at the Australian Electoral Commission in Canberra, where she had worked for nearly two decades.
Dario's return to the area was fueled by a wish to be in closer proximity to family and one of the first things she noticed was that residents are very engaged and have roots in the community.
Public Safety Building
Voters shot down a proposed $5.9 million public safety complex 139-214 in March during a special town meeting. The now-dissolved Police Station Committee had been formed a year prior to focus on the town's ongoing plans to build a new station.
The proposed police and ambulance complex at 405 South Main St. included police, ambulance, emergency medical services personnel, sleeping quarters, garage space, an emergency management center, and an in-house training room.
Before the vote, a series of three hearings were held to inform the public and solicit feedback. Residents largely raised concerns about the price and its impact on the tax bill.
The state had promised $1 million for the project, bringing the maximum taxpayer burden to $4.9 million, and the Baker Hill Road District contributed $150,000 for the property purchase.
A Public Safety Building Committee was established in May to bring forward a new plan that resonates with the town.
A survey was distributed and residents voiced support for three public safety building options: just a police station, a combined police and emergency medical services complex, and a complete facility with police, EMS, and the Fire Department.
The committee then voted to spend $10,000 on a needs assessment, schematic design, and a cost estimate of adding the fire department to the public safety building proposal.
Towards the end of the year, members of the committee toured the Williamsburg Public Safety Complex to get a handle on the scope of work and, according to meeting minutes, it was revealed that just a police station can be designed for about $3.8 million and a police and EMS facility for $7 million.
Election
The annual town election returned both incumbents in the only two races.
Michael Murphy was elected to a second term on the Select Board with 172 votes; Barbara Davis-Hassan polled 142 votes and Deborah Maynard 131.
For the Finance Committee, incumbent Jodi-Lee Szczepaniak-Locke outpolled Kristen Tool, a member of the former police station committee, by 235-197.
Running unopposed were Sherri Wilson for library trustee and Joe Trybus for Planning Board. Turnout for the annual election was 448, or 18 percent of the town's 2,470 registered voters.
Berkshire Mall
Plans for the Berkshire Mall changed from cannabis production to a senior living facility with condominiums and other commercial uses on the property.
The building has largely been out of use since 2019 except for Regal Cinema, which closed in 2022. Target is the only remaining store and owns its building.
JMJ Holdings Corp. purchased the property in 2022 and the Select Board signed a Community Host Agreement for a cannabis manufacturing reuse earlier this year.
The company said it spoke with many people and businesses and, based on the size of the town and the economy, it is too difficult to get retail back into the space.
In October, the board was shocked to hear that cannabis plans were scrapped for a senior living facility with other mixed uses. Target's refusal to dissolve prohibitive restrictions and oversaturation of the cannabis market were cited as reasons for the pivot.
JMJ said the development would consist of independent living, assisted living, nursing, and memory care units. In the plans are also multifamily units and new developments that would include doctors' offices, restaurants, and retail space.
For the most part, town officials would just like to see the property in use and generating tax revenue.
Recreation
The year 2023 also brought the promise of a new park for older residents when a "senior park" was proposed in September.
Resident Linda Pruyne approached the Select Board with a plan to add senior-friendly activities to Bridge Park and the Select Board voted to form a Lanesborough Senior Park Initiative.
The proposal is of no cost to the town and is planned to be paid through fundraising.
Utilizing the existing infrastructure, the planners feel that they may be able to install a small gazebo for shade, a pickle ball court, and a wiffle ball field. It was also designed with easy accessibility with paths, nearby parking, and handicap-accessible tables.
The next month, the board appointed members to the committee after they filled out citizens' interest forms.
The board also considered adding a "residents only" sign to the Lanesborough Lally Public Beach after being approached by Michael Lally, who resides on Sunrise Street. He said that about 80 percent of beachgoers are not from Lanesborough.
While the board members said they heard his frustration, they also want to make sure the signage won't be "toothless."
They suggested talking to the town counsel to see if this is something that has to be taken to the annual town meeting. If it was a bylaw or an ordinance, it would be enforceable.
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