Lanesborough Select Board Schedules Special Meeting to Decide DPW Director

LANESBOROUGH -- September 22, 2025, Lanesborough Select Board schedules October 1 special meeting to decide on its sole DPW director candidate. The board interviewed Nate Fenwick, the department's current foreman and the only remaining applicant after two others withdrew, finding him candid about strengths in field leadership and a self-described weakness in capital project planning and administrative paperwork. Chair Maynard said he was "disappointed" only one candidate was available but agreed to the accelerated timeline given that outgoing director Charlie has roughly 19 working days left. Separately, Mission Clean Energy presented its Pear Tree Energy Center, a proposed 170-megawatt standalone battery energy storage system on 24 acres in Lanesborough, projected to generate more than $10 million in tax and benefit revenue over 20 years at roughly $500,000 annually through a payment in lieu of taxes; the company said commercial operation is not expected until late 2029 or early 2030. The board also received an unqualified audit opinion from Scanlon and Associates, which reported town reserves at approximately 17 percent of the nearly $12 million budget, well above the 10 percent bond-rating threshold.