At a special town meeting in Great Barrington on April 17, residents voted not to acquire Housatonic Water Works for a sum not to exceed $2.3 million.
Town Counsel David Doneski has ruled that the citizens petitions are advisory only, and not binding.
The vote on the motion was 140 yes to 241 no.
Residents also voted postpone a warrant article to acquire the Great Barrington Fire District for a sum not to exceed $2.3 million.
Full story online tomorrow on The Berkshire Edge
The task of hiring a new town clerk will fall to new town manager Mark Pruhenski, who himself was only hired this spring and is currently in his first week on the job.
"I love Great Barrington and it's been a privilege to be here for six years and serve the town," outgoing town manager Jennifer Tabakin said late Thursday afternoon at a farewell party in her honor at 20 Railroad Public House.
By the end of the summer, service is expected to be extended to the Mason Library and the town water department, known as the Great Barrington Fire District, on East Street.
Though the vote was unanimous to keep the bridge closed, selectboard Chairman Steve Bannon said the board could always change its mind if there was a groundswell of objections from neighbors.
Two parties had told police that Bartini's silver-blue Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck "almost struck their vehicles from behind and swerved around their vehicles at a high rate of speed," according to a report prepared by Trooper Paul E. Savage, the arresting officer.
Interviews will take place at Town Hall Tuesday, March 26, and Wednesday, March 27. The public is invited. Town residents wishing to submit questions for the candidates must do so no later than Friday, March 22, at 5 p.m.
This week, mobilization and set-up began for Church, School and Elm streets on Monday. Actual construction will begin on Monday, March 18, with an expected completion date of Sunday, June 30.
The Berkshire Hills school committee is expected to vote Thursday night to approve its own spending proposal of $26.2 million. The vote to approve it is almost a foregone conclusion after last week's quiet and harmonious public hearing.
The plan, the only one the town has so far received after several requests for proposals, calls for an adaptive reuse of the vacant 110-year-old school on Pleasant Street in the center of the village of Housatonic.
The Adams town administrator search is being conducted by Community Paradigm Associates, the same firm that is leading the search for Tabakin's successor in Great Barrington. Paradigm principal Bernie Lynch did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
With the remediation that has already been conducted, along with ongoing and future clean-up, potential sale of the Main Street property could put it back on the tax rolls, thus generating revenue.
Selectboard Chairman Steve Bannon said he could not support enforcement of the bylaw until there is an implementation and funding plan for the series of water stations that are planned to help consumers refill the reusable bottles.
Great Barrington Police Chief Bill Walsh said his department "played a minimal role in this operation"; that he reported it to his boss, Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin, the next day; and that he responded to media inquiries on the incident.
