Barrett, Bosley Named Hayden Award Recipients

09:21PM / Friday, December 03, 2010Print Story | Email Story

John Barrett III

Rep. Daniel E. Bosley

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will present the 2010 Francis H. Hayden Memorial Award to John Barrett III, former mayor of North Adams, and outgoing Rep. Daniel E. Bosley at the annual meeting on Friday, Dec. 17, at the Crowne Plaza.

The award was established in May 1968 to honor the memory of Francis H. Hayden, a two-term president of the former Northern Berkshire Chamber who made significant contributions to the community as president and through his involvement with several other organizations.

Candidates are judged on the basis of volunteer efforts rather than any measure of success in the field in which they normally are employed or the accomplishments or successes by an individual's membership in one organization. The award is given annually to a person who has volunteered time, made personal sacrifices, and shown leadership resulting in significant contributions to the economic, social and cultural improvements of any or all of the communities of Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, New Ashford, North Adams, Savoy and Williamstown.

Over the years, both Barrett and Bosley have each made significant volunteer contributions to their communities which have included service to youth, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and economic development initiatives, said the selection committee.

Bosley is currently completing his 12th term as the state representative of the 1st Berkshire District. The Democrat has served his district in a number of capacities, most recently as the House vice chairman of the Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditure and State Assets. Bosley has also was House chairman of both the Joint Committee on Commerce and Labor and the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. Bosley has been a key leader in the areas of fiscal policy and economic development, and his influence continues to make a significant impact on the Northern Berkshire community.

Barrett, an educator for 14 years and public servant for nearly 40, has contributed to his community in many ways, most notably serving as mayor of North Adams for 26 years, making him the longest-serving mayor in the state's history. In addition, Barrett has served on the North Adams Airport Commission and the McCann School Committee. In 1995, the state awarded Barrett for his "unwavering leadership as chairman of the Mass MoCA Commission" and, in 2005, he was the recipient of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts Foundation Clock Tower Award. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Westfield State University have recognized Barrett with a distinguished alumni award and honorary degree, respectively, and the North Berkshire Community has recognized his service by naming him grand marshal of the Northern Berkshire Fall Foliage Parade.

As mayor, he was a member of the Massachusetts Mayors Association, serving as president, vice president, Executive Committee member and dean. He is currently a consultant on public works operations for the city of Pittsfield.

"Sometimes a nominee is so compelling, the committee's selection is easy," said Hayden Award Committee Chairman Alan L. Marden, a North Adams city councilor. "And, with two such nominees, our choice seemed overwhelmingly self-evident. Over the extraordinary, and probably never-to-be-duplicated lengthy tenures of Rep. Daniel Bosley and Mayor John Barrett III, both have made significant contributions to the economic, social and cultural improvement of the Berkshire communities they served.

"Their joint work in establishing the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art alone makes them worthy Hayden Award recipients, but both did so much more; and with each ending their public elective service, this is the time to recognize such contributions."

The Hayden Award has been presented annually since 1969. The first recipient was the late Donald Thurston. Among the most recent recipients are George Fairs, Mary and Henry Flint, Eric Rudd, George Kennedy, Joseph H. Wolfe, Donald R. Dubendorf, Joseph Thompson, Marci and Sandy Plumb, John DeRosa, Bruce Grinnell, Hulda Hardman-Jowett, Stephen A. Green, Stephen Pagnotta, and last year's recipient, Bernie Pinsonnault.

The chamber will present the award at the annual meeting on Friday, Dec. 17, 7:30 a.m., at the Crowne Plaza. Tickets are $30 each and are still available at www.berkshirechamber.com or by calling 413-499-4000.

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Your Comments

iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.

These are excellent choices. The Hayden Award is a well-deserved honor for both men. They each have worked hard for many, many years to improve the overall quality of life in this region.
from: Good choices	on: 12-03-2010 10:45PM I Agree (38) - I Disagree (34)

These two have never done anything for our community out side of their duties as elected officaials. What a complete joke. The only volunteering they have done has been done with public funds or on the public's time.
from: BS	on: 12-04-2010 08:35AM I Agree (39) - I Disagree (34)

Sorry you feel that way !! You would feel differant if you new there behind the scenes actions.
from: sorry	on: 12-04-2010 09:33AM I Agree (24) - I Disagree (31)

I wish Barrett was volunteering here in Pittsfield. His sweetheart deal, Big money contract with the Mayor here is a insult to taxpayers.
from: James	on: 12-04-2010 10:16AM I Agree (33) - I Disagree (22)

THE COMENT FROM BS IS TOTTALY BS AND IN APPROPIATE JUST LOOK WHAT MAYOR BARRET HAS DONE FOR NORTH ADAMS ONE NEW SCHOOL ONE RENOVATED HIGH SCHOOL ALMOST EVERY STREET IN THE CITY HAS BEEN RESURFACED MOST HAVE NEW WATER AND SEWER PIPES AND A WATER TREATMENT PLANT I COULD GO ON AND ON LISTING YOUR ECOMPLISMENTS THANKS YOU JOHN AND THANK YOU DAN FOR YOUR 26 AND 24 YEARS OF SERVICE . THE BIG E Editor: we appreciate your comments but could you please stop yelling.
from: the big E	on: 12-04-2010 11:05AM I Agree (35) - I Disagree (25)

All that you have listed were accomplished with public money. The merits of the award are for Volunteer and community enrichment. He has done nothing without the PUBLICS MONEY!
from: BS	on: 12-04-2010 12:42PM I Agree (31) - I Disagree (26)

Well deserved by both. Good news
from: MNA	on: 12-04-2010 01:41PM I Agree (32) - I Disagree (33)

You have to be kidding us!.... Barrett and Bosley.. Two defeated bookends nominated by Al Marden a lap dog for both Barrett and Bosley..... Each received compensation for their jobs and this announcement makes a mockery out of the Hayden Award. Shame on the CHAMBER!
from: Only the facts	on: 12-04-2010 01:46PM I Agree (32) - I Disagree (32)

These two men have put their heart and soul into the Berkshires. Barrett was mayor for 26 years and always found ways to balance the budget without raising taxes to the people of NA while keeping crime down. Bosley worked tirelessly as well. Both men are and will be missed. Congratulations!
from: No bitterness please!	on: 12-04-2010 03:08PM I Agree (31) - I Disagree (30)

what a bunch of losers.
from: north adams local	on: 12-04-2010 06:27PM I Agree (24) - I Disagree (32)

Politicians that benefit from so-called volunteering should be exempt from receiving this award. There are a lot of volunteers that give their heart and soul for no recognition or attempting to win votes, yet it's these politicans that get the photos and stories after contributing a few minutes to a cause.
from: please no politics	on: 12-05-2010 10:39PM I Agree (32) - I Disagree (13)

Here's the relevant criteria from the Chamber website: Candidates will be judged on the basis of volunteer efforts rather than any measure of success in the field in which they are normally employed.
from: For the record	on: 12-06-2010 01:52PM I Agree (12) - I Disagree (5)

It is hard to believe that there was not one average citizen whose volunteer efforts could be found. What is clear is that the Chamber is just part of the political old boys network and rewards their own. I like Dan Bosley and John Barrett, and it is not unusual to honor politicians who have finished political careers. But to give them an award meant to encourage volunteerism and community spirit is disgusting.
from: M. Maeda	on: 12-06-2010 04:28PM I Agree (12) - I Disagree (12)

Agreed. If an organization wants to honor past politicians, fine. However, given the number of hours that so many non-politician volunteers put in, it's really a terrible shame that the Chamber ignored their efforts and basically cast them aside. I hope that Mssrs. Bosley & Barrett will consider turning down the awards, and suggest that the Chamber instead present them to some of the hardworking volunteers of Berkshire county.
from: jFox	on: 12-08-2010 01:44PM I Agree (3) - I Disagree (7)

Beside the Chamber, who are the judges? They don't seem to know what a volunteer is. They could have given it to a new unknown who deserves and appreciates it instead of someone who has a hundred awards already.
from: judges	on: 12-08-2010 02:37PM I Agree (2) - I Disagree (7)

Letter: Is the Select Board Listening to Dalton Voters?

Letter to the Editor12:00PM / Thursday, November 21, 2024

To the Editor:

A reasonable expectation by the people of a community is that their Select Board rises above personal preference and represents the collective interests of the community. On Tuesday night [Nov. 12], what occurred is reason for concern that might not be true in Dalton.

This all began when a Select Board member submitted his resignation effective Oct. 1 to the Town Clerk. Wishing to fill the vacated Select Board seat, in good faith I followed the state law, prepared a petition, and collected the required 200-plus signatures of which the Town Clerk certified 223. The Town Manager, who already had a copy of the Select Board member's resignation, was notified of the certified petitions the following day. All required steps had been completed.

Or had they? At the Oct. 9 Select Board meeting when Board members discussed the submitted petition, there was no mention about how they were informed of the petition or that they had not seen the resignation letter. Then a month later at the Nov. 12 Select Board meeting we learn that providing the resignation letter and certified petitions to the Town Manager was insufficient. However, by informing the Town Manager back in October the Select Board had been informed. Thus, the contentions raised at the Nov. 12 meeting by John Boyle seem like a thinly veiled attempt to delay a decision until the end of January deadline to have a special election has passed.

If this is happening with the Special Election, can we realistically hope that the present Board will listen to the call by residents to halt the rapid increases in spending and our taxes that have been occurring the last few years and pass a level-funded budget for next year, or to not harness the taxpayers in town with the majority of the cost for a new police station? I am sure these issues are of concern to many in town. However, to make a change many people need to speak up.

Please reach out to a Select Board member and let them know you are concerned and want the Special Election issue addressed and finalized at their Nov. 25 meeting.

Robert E.W. Collins
Dalton, Mass.

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