Berkshire Money Management Hires Compliance Officer

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Money Management, a locally based investment advisory firm, has hired Jayne Bills, a veteran of Citigroup Treasury, as the firm's compliance officer.

Bills joins an already growing team of committed advisors and will be dealing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and all of its outside regulatory requirements and internal policies. She has the essential task of effectively communicating Berkshire Money Management's ethics principles and compliance regulations to the SEC and to BMM's client community.

"We are fortunate to have been able to lure Jayne away from New York City to our Berkshire-based company," said Berkshire Money Management CEO and Chief Investment Officer Allen Harris. "This area has so much to offer other young professionals, and Jayne has a lot to offer to us."

Bills attended Providence College in Rhode Island, where she met her husband Dan. She graduated in 2007 with a B.A. in quantitative economics. For a decade, the couple lived in the New York City area, "commuting, competing, and, at times, wondering if there just might be a different way of life." The arrival of their son, August, gave them the incentive to find out. It was a perfect match — the job, the "Shire" and their mutual interests — hiking, cycling, and antiquing.

"We are excited to call the Berkshires home and for our family to embrace all the wonderful things the region has to offer," Bills said. "I am so grateful to have the opportunity to join Berkshire Money Management, to be part of a company that operates with a great level of respect not only for their clients and employees, but also for their community."

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.