Berkshire Chamber of Commerce Hosts First Administrative Professional’s Celebration

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PITTSFIELD — The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will celebrate Administration Professionals Week, April 20th through 26th with a special reception at Mazzeo's Ristorante, located at 7 Winter Street in Pittsfield, on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The musical talents of the Sister City Jazz Ambassadors will provide entertainment for the evening and delicious hors d’oeuvres and appetizers will be available. Special gifts will be provided to all administrative professionals who attend the event.

Administrative Professionals Week recognizes and celebrates the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, and other office professionals for their growing and diverse contributions to the workplace. The people who help run our business are an invaluable part of the team and it can be easy to let their work often go overlooked throughout the year. The Berkshire Chamber’s Administrative Professional’s Celebration is the perfect opportunity to show Administrative Professionals how much they are appreciated. Additional ways to honor Administrative Professionals are: are: sending flowers or a festive balloon bouquet, purchasing a gift certificate to local businesses, or by giving an assorted gift basket.

Also at this event, there will be information available about a Berkshire Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). IAAP is a professional association of more than 40,000 secretaries and other administrative professionals worldwide located in more than sixty countries. This professional organization focuses on the importance of networking and educational opportunities.

The cost to attend the Berkshire Chamber’s Administrative Professional’s Celebration is $15 per person or bring a group of five for $55. While this event is intended to celebrate and recognize the members of every organization’s behind-the-scenes team, the Chamber encourages employees of all backgrounds and levels to attend.

This special event is generously supported by Legacy Banks.


To register for this the Berkshire Chamber’s Administrative Professional’s Celebration, call (413) 499-4000 extension 10, email info@berkshirechamber.com or visit www.berkshirechamber.com.

About Berkshire Chamber of Commerce

The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce was first accredited in 1999.  In 2004, the Berkshire Chamber was awarded a 4-STAR accreditation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Accreditation Program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce recognizes chambers and their staffs that have defined, reached, and maintained superior performance standards and have contributed to the good of their communities. The purposes and objectives of the Corporation shall be to promote and advance the economic, civic, and social welfare of Berkshire County. In February 2001, the Chamber merged with the Northern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and changed its name to the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Today, it is the largest organization of its kind in Berkshire County, and one of the largest Chambers in the state.

The Chamber was established to identify and serve the needs and interests of the business community creating an environment conducive to the growth and development of business.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.

Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.

The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.

Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is  appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.

Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.

Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.

Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.

The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.

The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.

Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.

Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years. 

He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.

Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.

Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve  a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.

Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.

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