Lanesborough Fire Chief Issues New Mall Compliance Order, Target Gets Independent Sprinklers

LANESBOROUGH -- December 8, 2025, Lanesborough Select Board receives four-year Berkshire Mall fire enforcement history and issues new compliance order. Fire Chief Jeff DeShane told the two-member board, Chair Deborah Maynard and Jason Breall, with Michael Murphy absent, that he served owner Jay Jones a written order within days of the December 8 meeting demanding security improvements within 14 days or face a return to court, after conditions at the vacant mall had again deteriorated following years of remediation work. DeShane reported that Target has installed its own independent fire suppression system, with a final inspection scheduled for the following Wednesday. The board also unanimously appointed Jeff Murak as DPW Foreman, approved an engagement letter with Mirak Attorneys at Law as labor counsel for two upcoming 2026 union contract negotiations, and approved a slate of annual business licenses including an alcohol license for the Venue at Skyline LLC. During public comment, Patrick Elliott and Samantha Phillips of Second Drop Farm described receiving a cease-and-desist letter over short-term rentals, noting the town simultaneously collects a 9 percent excise tax on 61 registered short-term rental units, a contradiction the board directed to the Planning Board for resolution.