National Grid Supports Home Heating and Utility Emergency Aid in Mass

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HICKSVILLE, NY — The National Grid Foundation kicked off its 25th Anniversary with a $550,000 gift in support of three fuel-neutral emergency heating funds in Massachusetts and New York. 
 
The recipient organizations are United Way of Massachusetts Bay, United Way of Long Island and Catholic Charities Diocese of Albany.
 
"Income disruption and financial emergencies can happen to anyone, impacting the ability of individuals and families to pay for their housing, childcare, food and utilities," said Bob Giannino, President and Chief Executive Officer at United Way of Massachusetts Bay. "We also know that small amounts of emergency assistance in a time of financial crisis can prevent families from losing their homes, going without heat, experiencing food insecurity or going without other essential needs. We're grateful for the National Grid Foundation and their critical, longstanding partnership that enables United Way to deploy resources swiftly to our network of community-based organizations and to individuals and families throughout our region."
 
This special donation supplements the Foundation's "traditional" annual heating fund grants and combines support of these emergency programs at a record-breaking $1.5 million level; each organization has received $500,000 in support of its heat fund program.
 
"This gift helps celebrate the Foundation's 25 years of service in our communities and highlights our core principle: Giving people the tools they need to build hope is an essential ingredient in the development of individuals, families and building stronger communities," said Eileen Cohen, chair of th National Grid Foundation. "As so many are experiencing the rising cost of living, and our neighbors and communities are strained by tough economic times, we are pleased to once again be able to help and support these fuel-neutral emergency heating and utility funds." 
 
This announcement follows multiple statements last year that National Grid has committed to providing millions of dollars in support of existing partners and networks across Massachusetts and New York to help customers and communities meet their needs during this financially challenging time. As part of that, National Grid provided the National Grid Foundation a special donation of $5 million that will broaden and deepen emergency heating programs in the two states. The remaining funding will be gifted to additional organizations over the coming months.

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Lanesborough Picks Information Panel for Public Safety Proposal

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The town has a public safety building proposal to present to taxpayers, and now, an informational committee will help move the process forward.

On Monday, the Select Board voted to form a public safety building informational outreach committee and re-appointed four members: Dean Clement, Daniel MacWhinnie, Mark Siegars, and Lisa Dachinger.

"The Public Safety Building Committee has done their job. Now we need, hopefully with some of those same bodies, to form a new committee of some type and move forward," Select Board member Timothy Sorrell explained.

Earlier this month, the town officials voted to advance a $7.3 million combined police/emergency medical services facility to town meeting, discarding the option for a $6.5 million separate build.  The same design, then priced at $5.9 million, was shot down in 2023.

"There is the option to go to what could be a debt exclusion, which requires a two-thirds majority at either a special town meeting or an annual town meeting, and that can be followed by inclusion in a ballot," Town Administrator Gina Dario said.

Siegars advised that if the question goes to a ballot first with a fixed project budget, that amount can't be changed for a subsequent special town meeting vote.

"In our discussions, there are committee members who are willing to stay on if you wanted to continue the committee or appoint to new one, who have volunteered to be involved with any public information sessions to try to answer the questions with the idea that that they would also explore further and work with Gina and town counsel on specifically what the question should be for a special town meeting, and if, if warranted a subsequent ballot vote," he reported.

Chairman Michael Murphy echoed the former committees' arguments that the town can't explore grants and financing until it has approved an amount.

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