Letter: Blackmer Is the Public Servant We Need

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To the Editor:

In 2012, I was involved with running the coordinated campaigns of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, President Barack Obama and the new-to-the-Berkshires U.S. Rep. Richard Neal for Northern Berkshire County. When Congressman Neal showed up at our headquarters on Ashland Street in North Adams, one of the first people to greet him was City Councilor Lisa Blackmer. After sticking her hand out with a quick pleasantry, Lisa skillfully went to work and listed off a number of specific projects that North Adams could use federal help with. I was both impressed and floored by her chutzpah with a sitting member of Congress. That's the kind of gutsy, in the trenches, public servant she is.

I am happy to see three respectable contenders lining up for the 1st Berkshire District special election; I made my mind up almost immediately. Over the past decade, there is nobody who has delved further into the policies and practices of local governments than Lisa Blackmer. As a city councilor, town administrator and town treasurer, her dedication did not go unnoticed by others around the state, including the Massachusetts Municipal Association, where she eventually presided over the board.

In these days when Berkshire County and Massachusetts face serious challenges, from the current opiate crisis to Gov. Baker's slashed budget proposals to President Trump's attempts to strip health insurance from millions of Americans, we need someone representing us on Beacon Hill who will delve deep into the policies that affect us and our families. We need someone who is not afraid to advocate and fight for our schools, our healthcare needs, our roads, our jobs and our people. We need someone diligent, compassionate and consistent. That person is Lisa.

If you don't actually know Lisa, you should. She shows up, does her homework as well as the unglamorous behind-the-scenes work of policy crafting. She has a track record of making things happen. Please considering giving her your vote for state representative.

Greg Roach
North Adams, Mass.

 

 

 


Tags: election 2017,   state representative,   


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Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town officials have heaved a sigh of relief with the state's certification of free cash for the first time in more than three years.
 
The town's parade of employees through its financial offices the past few years put it behind on closing out its fiscal years between 2021 and 2023. A new treasurer and two part-time accountants have been working the past year in closing the books and filing with the state.
 
The result is the town will have $571,000 in free cash on hand as it begins budget deliberations. However, town meeting last year voted that any free cash be used to replenish the stabilization account
 
Some $231,000 in stabilization was used last year to reduce the tax rate — draining the account. The town's had minimal reserves for the past nine months.
 
Chairman Robert Norcross said he didn't want residents to think the town was suddenly flush with cash. 
 
"We have to keep in mind that we have no money in the stabilization fund and we now have a free cash, so we have now got to replenish that account," he said. "So it's not like we have this money to spend ... most of it will go into the stabilization fund." 
 
The account's been hit several times over the past few fiscal years in place of free cash, which has normally been used for capital spending, to offset the budget and to refill stabilization. Free cash was last used in fiscal 2020.
 
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