Hilltown residents attend the public forum on economic sustainability in Huntington on Thursday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
HUNTINGTON – Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli spoke plainly as he addressed approximately three dozen town and school officials, business owners and residents of half a dozen hilltowns at the Gateway Collaborative Task Force launch on Thursday evening in Stanton Hall.
He began by talking about growing up in Lenox, where his father served as a selectman and county commissioner for many years. He said his father, who at 91 still lives at home, saw the need for regionalization back then. Now, with the loss of industry, a shrinking population and 12 high schools with shrinking enrollment, Pignatelli said, “There is no sustainable model for schools anywhere in the Berkshires.”
Using examples from the Southern Berkshire Task Force he has worked on for the past two years, he said, “Now is the time to do things on a sub-regional basis.”
Pignatelli pulled together six school districts and 17 towns for ongoing talks to discuss how to streamline procurement and services in the towns and schools.
He talked about the potential of 17 towns having a shared building inspector, shared public safety and public health departments and a continuity of services from one town to another. He said the first step they are taking in the schools is in sharing technology services, with the first school saving thousands of dollars.
“We should be able to do these on a collaborative basis,” he said.
Governor Charlie Baker has taken notice, and is awarding the Southern Berkshire Task Force a Community Compact grant, which Baker implemented to highlight best practices in cities and towns across the Commonwealth. Pignatelli said the governor is coming to a meeting in December.
“Governor Baker couldn’t believe I got them to agree to the same language,” he said.
One of Pignatelli’s suggestions for the Gateway Collaborative is to apply for a Community Compact grant, especially with the momentum of the work in the Berkshires.
“We have the opportunity to do something here that’s very unique,” he said. “We’re in that window of time where if we do nothing, it’s a missed opportunity.”
He said the selectmen and finance committees need to be involved, because the grant goes to the towns.
Pignatelli also said the biggest investment they are going to make in the Berkshires is in broadband.
“If you live in the hilltowns where there’s no broadband, you’re isolated,” he said.
He said the WiredWest people have done a good job, but added, “I don’t care who you use, but get it done.”
Pignatelli called the members of the Gateway Towns Advisory Committee, who are launching the Task Force, “forward-thinkers.” He told the audience not to wait for the state to solve these problems, giving the example of the delay in the mitigation funds, which he said the state knew Gateway needed one year ago, and have just authorized.
“I can’t make you have the conversation. Hold the selectmen accountable. Hold the school committee accountable,” Pignatelli said. “Everything around us is shrinking. Adapt and adjust to keep it prosperous.”
