Roger Fachini, Former North Adams Assessor, Dies at 65

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Roger J. Fachini
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Roger John Fachini, 65, of 189 Stratton Road died Thursday, June 25, 2009, at Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center following a cardiac incident on Friday, June 19, while on the 11th hole of his beloved Taconic Golf Course. Mr. Fachini was assessor for the city of North Adams for 11 years.

Born in North Adams on Oct. 6, 1943, son of John J. and Rena Colo Fachini, he was raised in Williamstown and was a member of the first graduating class from Mount Greylock Regional High School in 1962. He attended the Williams College School of Banking and the Robert Morris School of Commercial Lending at the University of Massachusetts.

He served in the National Guard for seven years.

Mr. Fachini was first employed by First Agricultural Bank in North Adams, and went on to spend more than 15 years in various management roles in the land development industry. He was appointed North Adams assessor in 1995 and chairman of its Board of Assessors, a position he held until his retirement in 2006.

After retiring, he renewed his real estate license and joined longtime friend Thomas Elder at Elder & Associates Real Estate in Williamstown.

He was the current president of the Stratton Hills Association Trust and had served on the board since moving there in 2005. He was active in the Berkshire County Assessors Association, serving as vice president from 1998 to 2000, as president from 2000 to 2002, and as a member of the executive board until his retirement.

Mr. Fachini had a passion for golf, snowshoeing, walking, fly fishing and anything that got him outdoors. He was a long-standing and supportive member of Taconic Golf Club, and a regular at Williams College football games, Clark Art Institute events, and Board of Trade functions. He was a true native son of Williamstown and had a deep and abiding appreciation for the beauty of the Berkshires, said family.

They described his as a generous and loyal friend, ready to lend a hand, do a favor, offer thoughtful advice, an honest opinion, and always armed with a quick-witted and humorous comeback, and respected and loved by his co-workers. He counted his family and friends as his richest treasures, they said, and was greatly loved in return and will be missed by all who knew him.

His favorite role was that of a loving, proud, and devoted father. The times he cherished most were spent with his daughter, Jennifer Helies, and her husband, Brad, at his home in Williamstown or with them in New York City.

Besides his daughter and son-in-law, he leaves his former wife, Judith Dawson Fachini of Bennington, Vt., and numerous cousins throughout the area.
 
FUNERAL NOTICE — A celebration of Mr. Fachini's life will be conducted Thursday, July 2, at 4 p.m. on the lawn of his home at 189 Stratton Road by the Rev. Mr. Bruce Ziter, deacon of St. Elizabeth's Church in North Adams, officiating. A reception will follow at Gala Restaurant at the Orchards.

In lieu of flowers are suggested for the Village Ambulance service or The Fund for Williamstown through Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, MA 01247.
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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