The Board of Selectmen will be provide more insight on how to go about hiring a new police chief.

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Police Chief Mark Bashara is retiring and the town is now deciding how to go about replacing him.

 

Bashara, who is on a one-year contract, informed Town Administrator Paul Sieloff that he intends to retire in May. Bashara has served as chief for the last 12 years.

 

The Selectmen are considering how to find a new chief — including reaching out to neighboring towns to consider sharing the position. Police Commission member Marvin Michalak asked the Selectmen on  Monday for some guidance in crafting another search.

 

Michalak told the Selectmen that the last search focused mostly in Western Massachusetts, with candidates being interviewed from as far away as the Springfield area.

 

The Selectmen, at this point, said one requirement would be that the new chief live or relocate to the Berkshires. The Selectmen added that requirement because of the time factor — the chief needs to be in town during an emergency.

 

"I would like to see Berkshire County, if not in town," Chairman John Goerlach said.

 

Selectmen said there are certainly good candidates currently in the department — with a few boasting more than 20 years on the force — but they want to make sure they do their due diligence.

 

"I think we have qualified candidates here. But, I think we'd be doing the town a disservice by not looking elsewhere," Goerlach said.

 

Selectman Robert Ericson added that now is time to consider sharing the service. Town Administrator Paul Sieloff said he had some general conversation with other towns but will make a more formal request for interest. The board focused on reaching out to Cheshire, Dalton and Williamstown for possible shared service agreements.

 

"I have not contacted Pittsfield because I feel they are a different type of municipality... That has not been a focus," Sieloff said. "I was thinking more of the suburban towns nearby."

 

Hancock and New Ashford do not employ police so those two municipalities aren't being considered either.

 

"We should be looking to see if we can make this more efficient, too," Ericson said.

 

The Selectmen wanted more time to discuss their options but provided the Police Commission with those first steps in guiding their search. Sieloff added that the town could always appoint an interim chief from within if a new chief hasn't been chosen by May.

 

"We have a little bit of time. We have made some general progress," Sieloff said.

 

In other business, the Selectmen agreed to allowing the gates blocking off Potter Mountain to be opened during hunting season. But, at the first sign of trouble the hours will be restricted.

 

"We've had cars burn up there. We've had stabbings. We had stuff dumped," said Selectman Henry "Hank" Sayers, who runs his wrecking business at the base of the mountain.

 

Sayers wanted the gates to be closed every night and on the weekends. But, he eventually agreed to allow it be open at night during the week until there are problems. The state owns the land up there and is responsible for the opening and closing of the gate. The road has only been closed off to the public at times during recent years.