Hampden County Assistant District Attorney Karen Bell will serve as first assistant district attorney.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Andrea Harrington has started to build her team.
On Wednesday, the district attorney-elect announced Karen Bell as her first assistant district attorney. Bell is currently an assistant district attorney in Hampden County with some 20 years of experience.
She's said to have worked in the appellate division, the district court, grand jury, and the superior court divisions.
"Bell has prosecuted thousands of cases and most recently served as a member of the Hampden County District Attorney's Superior Court Homicide Unit," reads a release from Harrington.
Harrington also announced that retired state Supreme Judicial Court Justice Francis Spina will chair a transition team. The team and Harrington will work with outgoing District Attorney Paul Caccaviello during the next few months to smooth a transition into the office.
"I am proud of the experienced and visionary team we are building to help shape the district attorney's office. Incoming First Assistant Karen Bell and transition chair Francis Spina bring decades of courtroom experience to the team, and Paul Caccaviello has been an incredible resource throughout the process," Harrington wrote in a statement.
"As district attorney, I look forward to working closely with prosecutors, community stakeholders, local non-profit organizations, and residents from across the county to make our towns and cities safe and healthy places to live, work, raise your family, and retire. I am excited with the progress our team has made thus far, but we're only getting started."
Spina is a Pittsfield native who served in the Berkshire County district attorney's office, then as a Superior Court and an appeals court judge before taking the bench on the Supreme Judicial Court.
Harrington said a full transition team will be announced after Thanksgiving.
Harrington just won election to the seat after fending off a write-in campaign by Caccaviello, who served as the first assistant under former District Attorney David Capeless until his retirement in March. Caccaviello said in a statement that he has since met with Harrington to establish the transition process.
"Andrea and I have been working closely to establish a process that will ensure a seamless transition into the District Attorney's office. In the months ahead, Andrea and I will further this collaboration so that the criminal justice system in Berkshire County continues to do what matters most to us both — putting the safety of our residents first," Caccaviello wrote.
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Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.
Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.
"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.
"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."
The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.
Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."
"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."
The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.
Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.
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