Lanesborough Picks New DPW Director. By Brian Rhodes, iBerkshires Staff
05:34AM / Tuesday, August 30, 2022 | |
 | | Charlie Durfee, a foreman, will become the new Department of Public Works director in September. |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Select Board has approved Charlie Durfee as the new Department of Public Works director, to begin next month.
Durfee, the town's former fire chief and current DPW foreman, will begin the job on Sept. 21. He will replace current Director William Decelles.
"I'm a lifelong resident of the town of Lanesborough. I've been with our Fire Department for over 40 years. I worked with the Highway Department for 34 years and 10 months. I was a worker for probably 28 years, then I moved into the Foreman position," Durfee said during his interview for the job earlier this month. "I would love the opportunity to become the new director."
Durfee said, as director, he will prioritize the town's most critical issues. He said there are several things that go into being in a supervisor role.
"[It's important] to know the job, to get along with the workers and get along with the public, because we're a public organization.
The board primarily chose Durfee for his experience with the town. Board member Timothy Sorrell said the other candidate only had five years of public works experience.
"I think the edge really goes to the experience that one of the applicants has in town ... I certainly think Charlie is the candidate for the position," said board member Michael Murphy at the board's meeting last week.
In other business, residents Renee DeRagon and Michael Lally came before the board to suggest the creation of a town beach committee. Lally said they have maintained the beach for several years, but others have shown interest.
"Some of the people on the beach have offered to help out if we set up some sort of a group that's trying to ask people to volunteer," he said. "The purpose behind it is just basically to maintain those lines and the buoys, make sure they are safe, and you go in and up in the proper way so that nothing's getting destroyed and they're stored properly."
DeRagon and Lally said there should be no costs associated with maintaining the beach. The board suggested the group create an association rather than a town committee, as the recreation committee is technically the board responsible for maintaining the beach.
The group will return with more information at the board's next meeting.
DeRagon also suggested the town look into the creation of a dog park. She said there is a Stanton Foundation grant specifically for dog parks, from which Pittsfield got $250,000.
"Lanesboro probably doesn't need a big huge park. But it's a pretty easy step by step process. And the hardest part really was like site selection and keeping neighbors happy and things like that," she said.
Murphy said he spoke to DeRagon about the idea before the meeting and would like to know if residents are interested in such a park.
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