Flood Seeking Seat on Lanesborough Finance Committee
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Brodie Mountain Road resident Rebecca Flood feels it is time to give back to the community.
Flood is challenging two incumbents for a seat on the Finance Committee. She is a current financial analyst at General Dynamics in Pittsfield with a history of bank experience and she feels those skills will help with the town's finances.
"I just want to dig into the numbers and be realistic about things," Flood said. "What do we need and what don't we need?"
Flood's family was originally from Lanesborough but had moved to Pittsfield, where she was raised. Her family has all moved back and she and her husband built a home on Brodie Mountain Road five years ago.
Now she feels settled into the town, knowing the people and issues, and wants to help out.
"I feel like things could change," Flood said, citing high taxes while there is a lack of services such as trash pickup.
The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduate earned her bachelor's degree in business administration with a minor in accounting. She worked at First Massachusetts Bank — now TD Bank — through high school and college and later took a position as bank manager with Legacy Banks.
When Legacy merged with Berkshire Bank in 2010, Flood moved to General Dynamics, where she is currently employed. There is does exactly the same type of analytics she believes the town could use.
"I feel I could help out with my background," she said. "I feel it is time to get involved with the community."
The 34-year-old Flood says she understands all departments have issues with the budgets and that's where she can help out by finding efficiencies. She hopes to stabilize the tax rate.
"It'll be interesting to dig into the numbers," Flood said.
Between wanting to see some changes and her background and a little urging for her uncle, Selectman Henry "Hank" Sayers, she hopes to win one of two seats up for election. Chairman Al Terranova and Ronald Tinkham are both seeking re-election to three-year terms.
The Finance Committee is mostly responsible for presenting a budget to town meeting but also is in control of the town's reserve accounts. The other members of the five-person board are Christine Galib, Ray Jones and Stephen Wentworth.
The election is scheduled for June 21 and there are only two contested races — the Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen. Selectman Robert Ericson is being challenged by Michelle Johnson. Danielle Taylor is running unopposed for the School Committee, taking the seat of Sheila Hebert who opted not to run for re-election.
Moderator and Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School Committee (McCann School Committee) member Robert Reilly is running unopposed for both of those positions. Cemetery Commissioner Mary Reilly is running unopposed. And Rachael Eramo and Sherri Wilson are both seeking the two seats up for re-election on the board of library trustees.
Tags: election 2016, town elections,
