Elder Services Appoints New Executive Director

Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Elder Services of Berkshire County has appointed Christopher McLaughlin as their new executive director.

"I am delighted to return to work in the Berkshire community and lead Elder Services of Berkshire County as it continues its mission of providing the highest quality care, resources and support to its clients and their families," McLaughlin said.

The board of directors conducted an extensive search with many fine candidates. In the end, the clear choice was a local resident who has built a successful management career in the healthcare field.


"Chris has excellent interpersonal and strong oral communications skills. We feel he will provide leadership with strategic planning as well as management and implementation of all Agency programs and services," said Diana 'Toni' Fontana, president of the board of directors. "The board looks forward to working with him."


The mission of ESBCI is to provide Berkshire seniors the opportunity to live with dignity, independence, and self-determination. Their primary goal is to support seniors and individuals with disabilities as they live in their own homes and communities and delay or avoid costlier nursing facility placements. This is achieved through outreach, information and referral, case management, clinical assessment and eligibility, Meals on Wheels Berkshire County, and the provision of other mission-appropriate home and community-based services including the support of family caregivers.

McLaughlin is a leader in the long-term care network in western Massachusetts, having served in health care administration his entire career. For the last 14 years, he has served as the chief operating officer of the Mercy Continuing Care Network (an affiliate of Trinity Health of New England).

McLaughlin, a lifelong resident of Berkshire County, resides in Pittsfield with his wife and one of his three adult children and will begin his new role in September.

 


Tags: elder services,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A few projects are not getting funded by the Community Preservation Committee because of a tight budget.

The projects not making the cut were in the historic preservation and open space and recreation categories and though they were seen as interesting and valuable projects, the urgency was not prevalent enough for this cycle.

"It's a tough year," Chair Danielle Steinmann said.

The panel made its recommendations on Monday after several meetings of presentations from applications. They will advance to the City Council for final approval.  

Two cemetery projects were scored low by the committee and not funded: A $9,500 request from the city for fencing at the West Part Cemetery as outlined in a preservation plan created in 2021 and a $39,500 request from the St. Joseph Cemetery Commission for tombstone restorations.

"I feel personally that they could be pushed back a year," Elizabeth Herland said. "And I think they're both good projects but they don't have the urgency."

It was also decided that George B. Crane Memorial Center's $73,465 application for the creation of a recreational space would not be funded. Herland said the main reason she scored the project low was because it didn't appear to benefit the larger community as much as other projects do.

There was conversation about not funding The Christian Center's $34,100 request for heating system repairs but the committee ended up voting to give it $21,341 when monies were left over.

The total funding request was more than $1.6 million for FY24 and with a budget of $808,547, only about half could be funded. The panel allocated all of the available monies, breaking down into $107,206 for open space and recreation, $276,341 for historic preservation, and $425,000 for community housing.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories