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Williamstown's Net Zero Effort to Be Subject of Panel Discussion

  Included on the warrant for June s annual meeting is a resolution calling on the town to commit to pursuing a net zero greenhouse gas emissions goal.   Members of the town s Carbon Dioxide Lowering (COOL) Committee, which drafted the resolution, first presented the idea to the board last month. On Monday, the Select Board discussed the proposal during a review of the warrant s first draft. And next week, the whole town is invited to a virtual panel discussion on the initiative with state Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield.   This basically says that Williamstown should pursue a net zero goal consistent with the limits established by the commonwealth, Town Manager Jason Hoch advised the board. The intent here is to actually do the local plan rather than having something foisted on us by the state.

Sergeant filed suit over racist language. Officers say he was prime offender.

Williamstown Sergeant Placed on Administrative Leave

Williamstown Sergeant Placed on Administrative Leave

  Town Manager Jason Hoch confirmed on Saturday that Sgt. Scott McGowan was placed on paid administrative leave this week.        The leave was first reported Friday by The Berkshire Eagle, which also revealed several run-ins McGowan had with the law 20 years or more ago.    McGowan, a full-time police officer in the town since 2002, last year named then Chief Kyle Johnson, Hoch and the town as defendants in a suit alleging discrimination and retaliation against a whistle-blower in federal court last year.    He alleged that officials named in the suit had allowed or covered up incidents of racism and harassment in the Police Department and then had discriminated against him for reporting them. 

Williamstown Moves Ahead on Interim Police Chief Plan, Department Investigation

  Without taking a formal vote, the board expressed a consensus around a plan to bring in a long-term interim chief to help the department move forward while the town completes an evaluation of how it wants policing to look in the future.   That evaluation is being led by a social work researcher who the town is hiring to study the issue and engage the community about its public safety needs. A local social worker who helped the town hire that researcher told the board that the study will take time.   What s being referred to as community conversations is a full-scale research project, Kerri Nicoll said after hearing the board discuss the question for several minutes. It will be conducted by a professional in this field. It s not simply social-workers going out to chit chat with people.