Great Barrington — In a press release issued on Friday, November 21, Town Manager Liz Hartsgrove announced that the town has made a formal offer to purchase long-troubled utility Housatonic Water Works.
Hartsgrove did not list specific details in her press release, including a purchase price the town is offering owners Frederick Mercer and James Mercer or any terms and conditions in the offer itself.
In response to an email from The Berkshire Edge asking for details, including a copy of the formal offer, Hartsgrove wrote “that is considered confidential per MGL [Massachusetts General Law].”
Hartsgrove writes in the press release
[A]s the parties continue negotiations regarding a potential acquisition of the privately-owned water utility, this step marks a significant advancement in the town’s ongoing efforts to address long-standing water quality concerns and build a sustainable, reliable system for residents in the Housatonic village. While the town acknowledges that any acquisition is a significant decision with financial, operational, and long-term implications, the offer opens the door for Town officials and HWW ownership to explore terms, conditions, and feasibility of transitioning the system to municipal control.
In October 2024, DPC Engineering LLC of Longmeadow and Harwich Port, Mass., presented a report finding that while the Housatonic Water Works’ infrastructure has a fair market value of $2.3 million, the town would need to invest at least $33 million in repairs if it acquired the company’s assets.
Hartsgrove added, “Throughout this process, transparency and public involvement will remain central; and, proposed acquisition would require future public review and formal action by the Select Board, along with Town Meeting approval as required by law.”
