Lanesborough Select Board Approves $1.1 Million Deal to Dissolve Baker Hill Road District

LANESBOROUGH -- February 9, 2026, Lanesborough Select Board unanimously approves $1.1 million settlement to dissolve the Baker Hill Road District and restart Berkshire Mall redevelopment. The board voted 3-0 Monday to approve a settlement agreement with JMJ RE Holdings LLC under which the company must deposit $1,116,168 into escrow and provide documentation of serious development intent at least 30 days before the June 2026 annual town meeting. If town meeting approves a home rule petition and the state legislature passes the required special act, the escrow funds go to the town and all of JMJ's debts to the district, estimated in discussion at roughly $500,000, are forgiven and extinguished. Board member Michael Murphy, who said he had personally spoken with Baker Hill Road District officials about dissolution, concluded: "Do I think it's time? I'm going to say yes, publicly." Chair Deborah Maynard called it "a giant win for the town," noting the district has not been paying its assessments, cutting into funding for police, ambulance, and highway services. The board also entered executive session to address formal and oral complaints from residents about the conduct of Zoning Board of Appeals Chair Mark Seegers at recent hearings.