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Jeanne Kempthorne will serve as chief of appeals and legal counsel and Richard Dohoney will be deputy district attorney in the Berkshire district attorney's office.

Harrington Adds Two More to District Attorney's Office Leadership

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — District Attorney-elect Andrea Harrington added two more individuals to her leadership team on Tuesday.
 
Richard Dohoney will be brought on as Harrington's deputy district attorney and Jeanne Kempthorne will serve as chief of appeals and legal counsel. Dohoney, of Great Barrington, is currently the city solicitor. Kempthorne is a former federal prosecutor working in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston for 11 years. 
 
The two join Karen Bell, who was previously announced as the office's first assistant.
 
"I am excited to bring such an experienced and talented group of prosecutors and legal professionals to serve as my senior leadership team in the Berkshire County district attorney's office. Jeanne Kempthorne, Rich Dohoney, and Karen Bell are recognized as statewide leaders in the legal community," Harrington said in a statement released Tuesday.
 
"Working together with residents, law enforcement, local elected officials, and community-based organizations, we are all ready to get to work for the residents of Berkshire County each and every day."
 
Dohoney is currently with Donovan, O'Connor & Dodig and has 18 years experience in litigation. He's tried cases in District, Superior, and Federal Court. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, on the Executive Committee of the Berkshire Bar Association, and has served on the Civil Litigation Counsel of the Massachusetts Bar Association. He graduated Boston College and Suffolk University Law School.
 
As deputy district attorney, Dohoney will lead district court and juvenile court prosecutions, will oversee administrative staff, and is responsible for implementing new initiatives.
 
"I am honored that District Attorney-elect Harrington has asked me to serve in this new role. I was inspired by the vision she articulated during her campaign and look forward to putting my courtroom skills to work to improve our community," Dohoney said in a statement. 
 
Kempthorne worked 11 years in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston as part of the major crimes unit, economic crimes unit, and chief of public corruption and special prosecution unit. In 2005, she was appointed to the state Ethics Commission. She also worked 25 years in a private practice specializing in appellate and post-conviction. She is a graduate of Harvard/Radcliffe College and Berkeley Law School.
 
As chief of appeals and legal counsel, she will oversee training, ethics, appeals, and diversion. 
 
"I look forward to working closely with District Attorney-elect Harrington and her dedicated team to make a meaningful impact on the safety and livability of Berkshire County. Andrea will bring a new and effective approach to our justice system, and I am excited to be a part of her leadership team," Kempthorne said in a statement.
 
Harrington takes over the office in January after defeating incumbent Paul Caccaviello in the November election.

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Pittsfield Council to See 10-Year Charter Review Report

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Following almost two years of work, the Charter Review Committee has made its recommendations to the City Council.

Tuesday's council agenda includes the committee's report dealing with governance items such as the charter objection, term limits, and financial procedures. Every 10 years, a panel reviews the City Charter, which defines the city's structure of government.

"The Charter Review Committee was established by city ordinance in May 2023. Its first meeting took place on August 7, 2023, under the direction of City Solicitor Stephen Pagnotta," Chair Michael McCarthy's executive summary reads.

"Solicitor Pagnotta informed the committee that its mission is to offer recommendations to city government concerning the Charter."

The charter objection was the most discussed issue throughout the preview process.  Members determined "the City's interest in a functioning government is not served well by a Charter' Objection being made by a sole Councilor."

The nearly 50-page report proposes amendments to Article 2 Section 9C, Charter Objection, to allow for discussion, require three supporters, and be prohibited when it pertains to the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

"The Committee felt strongly that the budgetary process should not be held hostage to a Charter Objection. The process of approving a budget under the Charter involves months of hearings with firm calendar restrictions, leading to a budget that must be in place before each fiscal year begins," McCarthy wrote.

"A Charter Objection during this process would have the potential to disrupt and delay the budget being in place on July 1 of each fiscal year."

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