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A number of residents attended Tuesday morning's meeting of the Prudential Committee, some voicing a need for better transparency.

Dalton Fire District Tries to Clarify Prudential Committee Role

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass. — Prudential Committee Chair Daniel Filiault straight off clarified at Tuesday morning's meeting that the board would not be discussing a requested forensic audit requested by Fire Chief Christian Tobin. 

Tobin was suspended earlier this month over allegations of sexual harassment, grant overspending, and "employee concerns."

The agenda posted on Aug. 15 included two items: general business and a discussion of the duties of the Water Commissioners and Prudential Committee. A number of residents attended the 10 a.m. meeting at the Stationery Factory, some voicing a need for better transparency.

When asked if there will be an opportunity for the public to hear decision-making on the audit, Filiault  said it would be up to the Water Commissioners and it is not a part of what the Prudential Committee does.

Tobin has accused the commissioners of illegal wages and hour practices, unlawful public meetings, improper safety practices, employee medical and respiratory protection, the misuse of district credit card funds, falsification of records for personal or others' benefit, and other allegations.

"This meeting is solely for the purpose of discussing the duties of the Water Commission and the Prudential Commission and how we interact," Filiault said, adding that there was a Monday email sent out "full of inaccuracies" that included discussion of the forensic audit.

"The forensic audit, that is not a subject that is being discussed today. It was not on the agenda. It will not be discussed."

Resident Don Davis was "very confused about a lot of things," including the duties of the committee.

"I appreciate what everybody's done over all the years and everything but it seems like over the last few years, there's definitely some sort of a problem within the district," he said.

"And I think that we as citizens really need to understand there's a lot of very alarming issues that the citizens really should know about and understand it's kind of a status quo."

According to the bylaw:

"The Prudential Committee shall collect (through the Treasurer's Office), have charge of and expend, according to the order of the District, all moneys raised by taxation; shall, subject to the order and approval of the District purchase and sell real estate; and shall approve or disapprove the items in the budget submitted to it by the Board of Water Commissioners and authorize the expenditure of the amounts therein set forth as approved by it. It may authorize the Treasurer to expend the money of the District in accordance with and subject to the approval of the District, or in accordance with and up to the limits set by the budget previously approved by it and may authorize the Treasurer to borrow money in anticipation of fees to be received on account of the use of water supplied by the District."

The meeting was called after discussions with Board of Water Commissioners Chair James Driscoll. He explained on Tuesday that this aims to ensure that the interaction between the two bodies is workable and will be able to get things done.

"And we just wanted to have this meeting to determine what core parts of this that the Prudential Committee would like to do or would like to leave as it has been," Driscoll said.

"Prudential Committee, historically, has passed the budgets that the Water Commissioners have set up through the department heads, and they are briefed on the budget, and then they okay the budget, and that is the budget that goes to the voters," he said.

"They have been instrumental in looking at any of the financial situations with the district, as far as loans, things like that, is part of what we have our meetings with the Prudential Committee for so that being said, all we wanted to do is get together and make sure that we're both on the same plane."

Filiault noted that a similar meeting has been held in the past and it is "not an unusual act." He feels "very fortunate" to have two longtime members of the committee present who can attest to how it is run: Thomas Murray and Richard Olsted.

In Murray's opinion, the bylaws determine that the water commissioners are in charge of day-to-day operations and come to the committee for finances. .

"My understanding is that it has always been very clear: except for financial questions, the Prudential Commission does not get involved in the day-to-day operations of the Fire District," Filiault said, explaining that he has stepped up to help with issues over the past year as an individual and was not acting a member of the commission.



Driscoll said that as long as the bodies are in agreement that they will operate as they have been according to the charter and bylaws, he is "quite happy and looking forward to working with the Prudential Committee from here on out."

Water Commissioner Michael Kubicki agreed.

"In the past, it's always been a good relationship," he said.

"My understanding when I [was] elected to this position was the water commissioners ran the day-to-day, developed the budget, discussed the budget with the Prudential Committee, and the Prudential Committee had their input or any questions if they had anything that was a concern to them, and we operated under those guidelines."

Former fire chief James Peltier was put on administrative leave last year and then fired. He attended the meeting and asked why the committee was represented in his discipline if it was only supposed to be dealing with financial items.

It was explained that the Prudential Committee can go to any meeting it wants to.

"I'm speaking for several people that couldn't make it to this meeting because it was inconvenient during the day," Peltier said.

"What they're looking for is transparency."

There was a back and forth between him and Filiault, who alleged he was getting off the meeting's topic and said, "we're done."

"You may talk about anything that has to do with the correct duties of the water commissioners and the Prudential Committee," Filiault said.

"I do not want any more discussions about previous meetings or actions by the board in the past because it has nothing to do with today's agenda."

Water Commissioner Camillus Cachat said he has been on the board for nine years and it has operated well during that time.

"Everything that the board's done has been open to the public," he said.


Tags: fire district,   water commission,   

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State Launches Workforce Innovation Tour at Interprint

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Secretary of Labor Lauren Jones starts her statewide jobs tour at Interprint in Pittsfield on Monday. The colors in the signage were inspired by the Eras Tour. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development kicked off its "revolutionary" workforce tour at Interprint and learned some about decor printing.

On Monday, the Healey-Driscoll administration launched the "MassHire 250 Workforce Innovation Tour" to celebrate local and regional workforce innovations across the state. From now until July, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones will visit each of the state's 16 MassHire regional workforce boards to hear about partnerships that fuel and sustain sectors.

"Berkshire companies are innovative in creating new possibilities," said David Moresi, chair of the Berkshire Workforce Board. "Technology and innovation are part of the Berkshires' industrious past, thriving present, and limitless potential."

In celebration of Interprint's 40th year in the city, state and local officials toured the surface design and printing facility and even participated in an ink matching exercise. With around 200 employees, the company sells its decorative papers and films worldwide and has seen several expansions.

"As I often say, workforce development takes collaboration and the network of organizations, community leaders, and workforce partners represented here demonstrates the partnerships that drive outcomes from career coaching and job training to employment," Jones said.

"That was demonstrated certainly by hearing some of the highlights shared during our tour of the partnership with MassHire and the employment and professional development outcomes that we see at a company like Interprint."

In a week, Massachusetts will join five other states in celebrating Patriots Day, commemorating the inaugural battles of the American Revolutionary War: Lexington, Concord, and Menotomy (Arlington). The workforce tour builds on the launch of Massachusetts 250, a statewide initiative to celebrate 250 years of America's independence and Massachusetts' revolutionary legacy.

Jones noted the Taylor Swift's Eras Tour inspired the signage.

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