Dalton Police Station Gets Asbestos Abatement

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass. — Asbestos abatement in the police station is scheduled for Monday, but more work still needs to be done. 
 
The Select Board was notified of the safety concerns in the police station, located in the Town Hall basement, during its meeting on May 28
 
Issues in the station included plumbing, asbestos, mold, ventilation, mice, water damage, heating, and damage to cells. 
 
During the meeting, it became clear that the Town Hall basement is not a viable long-term location for the station, but short-term resolutions need to be implemented to make the space safe for its staff until the town can find a permanent location. 
 
Building and Grounds Superintendent Jeff Burch updated the board on potential short-term resolutions during the Select Board meeting on June 24.
 
He had received quotes from Hill Engineering of $35,000 for the plumbing upgrade and $47,000 for the ventilation system but was still seeking one more quote as the cost was higher than anticipated. 
 
The board approved using up to $82,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funding for the design and engineering of the police station's sanitary plumbing upgrade and ventilation system installation. 
 
During the Monday meeting, Burch said engineering company EDM has submitted a proposal for a new ventilation system for the police station that is about $10,000 less than Hill Engineering's proposal. 
 
EDM's quote was for $37,999, but he said a few things in that were in Hill's proposal were not included, potentially causing their lower price. Burch did not receive a quote from EDM for the plumbing. 
 
Hill Engineering agreed that the cost estimate for the ventilation system was high, but that is because it is unclear what they were dealing with yet, Burch said. 
 
Hill Engineering agreed to provide the town with another proposal, which would be more of a fact-finding type of thing, he said. 
 
It was unclear what type of system the town wanted to invest in, whether a basic fresh air ventilation system or a full heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. 
 
The town wouldn't want to spend that much money on a system and then down the line need to change it, he said. 
 
Board members agreed they wanted to get more detailed cost estimates on the different options before deciding how to proceed.
 
Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson recommended that they send a written request for quotes that included the different costs for each option.  
 
Right now, the town is focusing on the building's ventilation to better understand the scope and cost before considering its plumbing options.
 
The reason for this is the plumbing will be more invasive to the operation of the police station, Burch said in a follow up. 
 
The town is still navigating how it wants to resolve the plumbing issues and is seeking quotes. 
 
During its meeting on June 24, the board also approved the appointment of the five voting members of the Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee. 
 
The committee will examine all the options for a new police station or combined public safety facility.
 
Even though the town is currently considering a new location for the station, addressing these issues in the long term would be beneficial to the town hall staff,  Hutcheson said. 
 
It would be useful to have space downstairs for potential expansion, such as adding more meeting rooms or offices.

Tags: Dalton Police,   police station,   

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District Moving On From Allegations Against PHS Administrator

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The district is "moving on" from unsubstantiated allegations against two Pittsfield High School administrators, saying there is no threat.

Dean of Students Molly West returned to work last week after being put on leave in December. The Department of Children and Families has cleared West and Vice Principal Alison Shepard of misconduct claims that surfaced after another PHS dean was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine.

School Committee Chair William Cameron on Wednesday emphasized that when such an investigation finds no evidence of wrongdoing, fundamental fairness and due process prohibits taking punitive action simply because of allegations. Reportedly, West was also investigated and cleared in the past.

"The circumstances of Mrs. West being placed on administrative leave don't need to be recited here," he said.

"Social media allegations made against her in December, which then regrettably were widely publicized, were not new. They had been heard, investigated, and found meritless by other school districts many years ago, nevertheless, they were disinterred recently by someone providing neither evidence nor a credible source and then reinvestigated twice in the last three months."

Senior Emma Goetze said she was "appalled, deeply disappointed, and frustrated that an administrator who has been placed on leave, someone who has caused significant discomfort and distress to so many students, has been allowed to return to our building."

"I understand that there is an investigation and acknowledge that this individual was cleared but it feels incredibly unjust to me and to many of my peers that despite everything, this person is being given the opportunity to come back," she said. "It's important to recognize that even though an investigation may have found no wrongdoing, that doesn't change the reality of how this individual's presence makes many students feel."

Investigations led by DCF and retired Superior Court Judge Mary-Lou Rup concluded that there is no evidence to substantiate the accusations.

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