LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen has formed a steering committee for a new town administrator, a little under a year after it last filled the position. 

The new committee will consist primarily of Town Hall staff, who were invited to be a part of the search. The board also appointed community member Claire Kristensen to be the committee's chair. 

"Basically, we're having a Town Hall staff, be the search committee for the position of the new administrator," said board Chair John Goerlach. 

Board member Timothy Sorrell said he would additionally like to see someone from Berkshire Village on the committee. 

"Take this moment to offer to anybody from Berkshire village [to join]. They can reach out to us and fill out a participant participation form," he said.

The town's last search committee concluded its work in November last year, picking Joshua Lang of Pennsylvania for the position after interviewing three candidates. Lang, who announced his resignation in late August to return to the Keystone State, has stayed with the town, for now, primarily working remotely until a replacement is found. 

Lang said he would work with the committee to get its first meeting set up. He said he and the board decided it was best to include public staff on the committee. 

"It was discussed to include those folks in on it so that they could participate in the process," he said. 

In other business, the board approved early voting hours for the Tuesday, Nov. 8, state election, beginning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22. Additional hours will be held Monday through Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. for the following two weeks, with another Saturday on Oct. 29. 

• The board voted to pick EDF Renewables to design, permit, install, finance, own, operate and maintain two solar photovoltaic systems in town. The lease amount is $116,000 a year over 25 years. 

Kirt Maryland, of Housatonic Solar LLC, recommended the company after looking at several options for the project. He said any of the companies he looked at could have done the job, but EDF stood out. 

"If I had to pick I'd take EDF right now. They were real professional when they got back to me. They had engineers redo everything, made long, thoughtful decisions," he said.

Lang said he agrees with Maryland that EDF is the best option for the town. 

"I think it's going to be a good start for the from town," he said. "It'll be a process to getting it up and running. But this is a big first step." 

• Kristen Tool of the Police Station Building Committee provided an update, noting that the open house for the temporary station will be held on Nov. 12. 

"That'll just be a chance for community members to come take a look at the temporary space, see how it's set up," she said. "Just reminding everyone that it's paid for with ARPA [American Rescue Plan Act] money, so it's not any burden to the taxpayers." 

Tool also provided clarification on the committee's discussions on a space for the permanent station. She explained that several people had asked about the Berkshire Mall property, saying it has not been discussed at this time. 

"The committee didn't look at the Berkshire Mall because it's privately owned, and it wouldn't be appropriate for a town committee to pursue private business owners for that purpose," she said. "So no one from the mall has come to the committee. Of course, if private business owners want to come and talk with us at the committee about what they have to offer, we're open to that." 

• The board appointed Ben Gelb to be the town's treasurer/collector, replacing Jodi Hollingsworth, who resigned last month. The board also appointed Regina DiLego to the position of part-time assessor and approved the posting of an assistant treasurer position and 

"I'd hope to hire somebody from the town," Gelb said. "College students, parents who need those flexible hours, or senior citizens who don't want to affect their pension and Social Security." 

• The board approved trick-or-treat hours for Oct. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m.

• The board publicly thanked Betsy Bean and Roberta Corey for obtaining and maintaining flower planters at Memorial Park. 

"They add a touch of beauty to our town for residents and visitors alike," Goerlach said. "This year was extremely, extremely dry and we applaud your efforts to provide water on a daily basis."

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