CHESHIRE, Mass. — Former town administrator Mark Webber has agreed to return to Cheshire to serve in the same position in an interim capacity.
Chairwoman Michelle Francesconi updated the board Tuesday that Webber had agreed to come back and can be appointed next week.
"I know he enjoyed his time in Cheshire," Francesconi said. "It is positive."
Town Administrator Edmund St. John IV resigned earlier this month. He had been hired after Webber retired in 2018 after serving the town for almost 10 years. St. John, a practicing attorney, said he felt he to chose between his clients and his town duties.
The Selectmen have hired an outside attorney to assist the board in the search for a new administrator but members agreed they wanted someone in place in the interim so the burden of running the town did not fall in their hands entirely while they conduct a search. They felt this search for a permanent administrator could take upwards of a year.
Francesconi proposed a $55 an hour rate and suggested Webber work 12 hours a week. She noted that Webber prefers to work in town.
"He could do a Tuesday perhaps. Work his 12-hour day then come to our board meeting at night," she said. "He does want to work in town and not remotely."
This would be finalized next week when the Selectmen actually vote on the appointment.
Francesconi said she hoped Webber could start immediately after.
"That would be my hope," she said. "As soon as possible."
She is currently handling many of the town administrator duties.
The board is still leaning toward hiring a consultant to help with the search. Francesconi said she has yet to reach out to the Massachusetts Municipal Association about the process but learned the consultant fee would have to come from the reserve fund.
"I think hiring a consultant is a good idea," Selectman Mark Biagini said. "Before we are in way over our head."
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Hoosac Valley Preparing For District Vote on $23M Budget
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee on Monday night unanimously approved a document "strongly" endorsing the school district's fiscal 2025 budget.
"This budget is a fiscally responsible plan that keeps the increases well below inflation and focuses on maintaining the district's financial health without drastic cuts or tax hikes," the position paper reads. "Much of the increase is driven by unavoidable costs, including state mandates and necessary contractual costs, ensuring the district remains competitive as an employer and service provider."
The endorsement comes a week before a districtwide meeting that will vote the $23 million spending plan up or down.
Cheshire rejected a Proposition 2 1/2 override last month that would have fully funded its portion of the budget and instead passed a motion that would level fund the town's fiscal 2025 school assessment. Adams had approved the budget in June.
All registered voters from Cheshire and Adams, the two towns in the regional school district, will meet on Monday, Sept. 30, at 6:30 p.m. in the Hoosac Valley High auditorium to vote on the budget, the only item on the warrant. This will be a majority vote.
A joint meeting of the School Committee and the select boards chose Thomas Bernard as moderator. Bernard, president of Berkshire United Way, is the former mayor of North Adams and was considered a neutral selection.
"I've started to familiarize myself with the warrant and the relevant section of MGL, and I'm boning up on my Robert's Rules of Order just to make sure that we do everything as clearly and transparently as we can next Monday evening," Bernard told the committee Monday.
West Dews ran for 137 yards, Landon Corcoran made big plays down the stretch and the Wahconah defense made the biggest stop of the night to stymie a comeback drive in the closing minutes of a 22-18 win over rival Hoosac Valley on Friday night.
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The committee voted unanimously Monday set a district vote on the fiscal 2025 budget and resolved its continuing support for the spending plan.
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President and CEO David Bissaillon purchased the vacant restaurant, which closed in 2019, as a permanent home last year for the legacy company, which offers a wide array of personal and business insurance.
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Voters on Monday rejected a Proposition 2 1/2 override and passed a motion that would level fund the town's fiscal 2025 school assessment. click for more