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Pittsfield Will Hold Preliminary Election on Sept. 19

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is expected to hold a preliminary election on Sept. 19 to trim the candidate fields for mayor, Ward 2 and Ward 7, barring any last-minute withdrawals.

Friday was the last day to submit nomination papers to the Registrar of Voters for certification and preliminary ballot positions will be drawn on Aug. 10. Each of the three contested position will be narrowed down to two candidates on Sept. 19 in preparation for the general election on Nov. 7.

Peter Marchetti, John Krol and Karen Kalinowsky are now the three certified candidates running to replace Mayor Linda Tyer, who is not seeking re-election.

Craig Gaetani and David Webber had pulled papers but never returned them.

Krol is a former city councilor and Marchetti and Kalinowsky are current city councilors. This is the second mayoral bid for both Marchetti and Kalinowsky.

In Ward 2, Soncere Williams, Alexander Blumin and Brittany Bandani are vying for the seat. Current Councilor Charles Kronick is not seeking re-election.

And in Ward 7, incumbent Anthony Maffuccio is being challenged by Jonathan Morey and Rhonda Serre.

The other races did not meet the criteria for a preliminary. 

Incumbent Kenneth Warren is unopposed for Ward 1.

Bill Tyer and Matthew Wrinn are running in Ward 3 to replace current Councilor Kevin Sherman, who is not seeking re-election.

Incumbent James Conant is unopposed in Ward 4 and incumbent Patrick Kavey is unopposed in Ward 5.

Gaetani has been certified to run for Ward 6 against incumbent Dina Lampiasi.

At-large candidates include incumbents Earl Persip III and Peter White, former councilor Kathleen Amuso, and newcomers Alisa Costa, Craig Benoit, Lucas Marion and Daniel Miraglia.

For School Committee, William Garrity, Dominick Sacco, Diana Belair and incumbents Sara Hathaway, William Cameron, and Daniel Elias are in the running.

The last day to register to vote for the preliminary election is Sept. 9.

Candidate list

MAYOR

Peter Marchetti
John Krol Jr
Karen Kalinowsky

CITY CLERK

Michele Benjamin

AT LARGE

Earl Persip, III
Peter White
Alisa Costa
Craig Benoit
Lucas Marion
Daniel Miraglia 
Kathleen Amuso

WARD 1

Kenneth Warren. Jr 

WARD 2

Soncere Williams
Alexander Blumin
Brittany Bandani

WARD 3


Bill Tyer
Matthew Wrinn

WARD 4

James Conant

WARD 5

Patrick Kavey

WARD 6

Craig Gaetani
Dina Lampiasi

WARD 7

Anthony Maffuccio
Jonathon Morey
Rhonda Serre

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

William Garrity Jr.
Sara Hathaway
William Cameron
Daniel Elias
Dominick Sacco
Diana Belair

 


Tags: election 2023,   municipal election,   


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Lanesborough to Vote on 34 Articles at ATM

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Voters will decide 34 warrant articles at the annual town meeting on June 11.

The Select Board endorsed a long list of articles during its regular meeting on Monday, most without discussion. 

A $11,846,607 spending plan has been proposed for fiscal year 2025, a 4.3 percent increase from the this year. The budget includes a net increase of $237,129 in education costs for the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School, less than the $271,478 increase in FY24. 

Three articles are related to short-term rentals, or Airbnbs: To impose a local excise tax of up to 6 percent of the total amount of rent for each occupancy, a 3 percent impact fee on "professionally managed" short-term rentals, and a 3 percent impact fee on short-term rentals in two- or three-family dwellings.

"These are the proposed language as provided by town counsel," Town Administrator Gina Dario explained.

Included in the 34 articles is one citizen's petition, which the board was not required to endorse. If passed, this petition would increase the Select Board from three to five members with an annual election of the chair. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes in that election would serve a three-year term, the candidate receiving the second highest number of votes would serve a two-year term, and the candidate receiving the third highest number of votes would serve a one-year term, with three-year terms to follow.

Two articles needed clearance from the Planning Board before coming to the Select Board, one being a request to amend the town's zoning bylaw to raise the cap on accessory dwelling units from 900 to 2,500 square feet.  

The proposal is in response to the lack of housing availability in the community and is the second go-around.

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