Berkley says 'no' to B-P withdrawal, horse gallops along Route 140: Our Top 5 stories

Before we begin the new week in earnest, we're taking a look back at the week that was, and the stories that led the news with Taunton Daily Gazette readers.

Leading the way this past week were a couple of stories about what the town of Berkley would decide to do about remaining in the Bristol-Plymouth school district, given the costs associated with a new school building.

Also in the Top 5 stories of the week was something you don't see every day: a horse galloping along the highway! Max had himself quite the adventure on Route 140 this past week.

Rounding out the Top 5 were a couple of city government stories, concerning raises that have been shelved, for now, for Mayor Shaunna O'Connell and the City Council, and the withdrawal of the mayor's pick for Taunton's first chief financial officer.

These were the stories that resonated most with Gazette readers this week:

Berkley and Bristol-Plymouth

A proposed new building for Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School would cost the district as a whole $300 million. Berkley's share of that cost would be $20 million. A special Town Meeting was called for Nov. 29, and town voters handed down two resounding "no" votes connected with the issue:

First, town voters said "no" to withdrawing from the B-P school district.

Second, they tabled the article on the $20 million in spending.

Town administrator Heather Martin-Sterling explained that town officials wanted the residents' input on whether the town should stay in the district in light of a building project with such "considerable sticker shock."

The B-P school committee is planning a district-wide town meeting for Jan. 2022.

Berkley Community School work greenlit: School in need of repairs, including leaky roof and flooding

Horse gallops along Route 140 in Taunton

Max, a 7-year-old Shire horse, escaped his paddock near the old Silver City Galleria on Tuesday and went for a gallop along Route 140. A driver posted a video of Max to Facebook, aptly describing the scene as "something you don't see every day."

By Tuesday afternoon, Max was home safe and sound. Read all about it, right here.

They call him the wanderer: Jake, the wandering peacock of East Taunton, has a home — so don't call animal control

Taunton city government news

Rounding out the Top 5 this week are a couple of city government stories.

First up, the City Council has shelved plans to discuss giving raises to themselves and the mayor. State law prohibits lame-duck city councils from voting on raises for themselves or a mayor. Gazette Reporter Chris Helms took a look at how Mayor Shaunna O'Connell's salary stacks up against the salaries of other city employees, as well as some other mayors.

Recently, the mayor also withdrew her pick for the city's first chief financial officer, Patrick Dello Russo, pending further review of potential red flags that include a personal bankruptcy in 2016. Dello Russo had recently gone on paid administrative leave from his post as treasurer-collector for Marshfield.

Taunton Daily Gazette/Herald News copy editor and digital producer Kristina Fontes can be reached at kfontes@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette today.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Top 5 Berkley stays with B-P horse on 140 no raise for mayor council