The Town's search for a replacement Fire Chief has been joined by a search for a replacement Town Clerk.

Janey Beardsley, Sandisfield's Town Manager, has a full plate as she juggles the phone lines, help wanted pages, and tip lines for names of qualified candidates for both jobs, and several others, too.

She told The Times that three Fire Chief candidates are on tap for interviews the first few days in October and two more the following week. The Town is waiting to see candidates' credentials because, depending on their licenses and skills, the result may affect the makeup of the firehouse. The Town is also seeking a Fireman/EMT, but if a person is qualified for chief as well as being a certified EMT they may filling both jobs.

The Town Clerk's position became vacant with Douglas Miner's partial but unexpected resignation in September. While he felt obliged to step down as Town Clerk, Miner is continuing to cover as Town Clerk in the event of time sensitive issues such as birth and death certificates and voting. But someone is needed soon - the statewide election is coming up in early November, which will require a Town Clerk on duty to supervise a good-sized staff.

Beardsley has had one applicant for the Town Clerk job. She has also contacted the Berkshire Managers' Group for advice on how to conduct Town business without a Clerk and asked for advice in searching for a replacement. She said she would settle for an interim candidate who might fill the spot until the November election, but there does not seem to be a wide pool of Town Clerk candidates.

And not a few other spots are available for hire. See the list (click here) from the Town website.

Other business: Sandisfield Orchard license expansion approved

The Orchard's application for a Special Permit was granted for an expanded restaurant, a retail space, organized events, and a cider building beyond what would be allowed under the original base agricultural/residential zoning. The Orchard's original application was filed last June but withdrawn during a Special Permit Select Board hearing. At that time the proposal lacked specificity and public comments from neighbors had raised concerns about lighting, noise, event use, site plans, and whether the expansion applied indoors or outdoors. Calvin Rodman, the owner, acknowledged then that event use had not yet been defined.

At the Select Board meeting September 28, with these issues made clear in a new application, the permit was approved and the Orchard will proceed with its plans for expansion. Next month, the Times will outline what Emily Melchior and Calvin Rodman are planning for Sandisfield's crown jewel, the Orchard.