Letter: Re-Elect Gordon Hubbard to Lanesborough Select Board

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To the Editor:

I support the re-election of Gordon Hubbard to the Select Board in the town of Lanesborough.

Mr. Hubbard prepares himself well by reading all the agenda materials before the Select Board meetings. He is very transparent, has no personal agenda, has an open mind and the business acumen that has worked well with the fiscal responsibilities of the Board of Selectmen.

Gordon has attended Planning Board, Zoning Board, Finance Committee, Recreation Committee, Board of Health, and Economic Development Committee meetings and every Business-to-Business Event while serving as a selectman in this town. He is very sincere in his desire to continue serving the community and he has always been courteous and a true gentleman when responding to the public at these meetings.

Given my roles in town government serving on the Economic Development Committee as the chair, member of both the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals and having attended just about every Select Board meeting over the past several years, I’ve witnessed firsthand the differences in the candidates in their preparation for the meetings they are involved in. I've also read Mr. Hubbard's platform, goals, experience, and education on www.reelectgordonhubbard.com.

Gordon is by far the more prepared, experienced, and professional of the two candidates in this race.

The town of Lanesborough has some very serious issues that require the best, most qualified person for the job. Transparency and accountability are very important when running for public office at this high level! Gordon Hubbard is by far that person.

I'll cast my vote on Tuesday, June 21, for Gordon Hubbard, Select Board member for three more years! Your vote is important – remember to vote – get the vote out – remember, every vote has an impact on the future of our town.

Barbara Davis-Hassan
Lanesborough, Mass. 

 

 

 

 


Tags: election 2022,   town elections,   

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Pittsfield Council OKs Tax Incentive, Historic District Study Committee

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council has approved a tax agreement to transform a historical downtown property into housing, and an effort to designate a local historical district in that area. 

Last week, the council OKed a tax increment exemption agreement for Allegrone Company's redevelopment of 24 North Street, the former Berkshire County Savings Bank, and 30-34 North Street into mixed-income housing. Councilors also approved a study committee to consider a Local Historical District in the downtown. 

The subcommittee on Community and Economic Development unanimously recommended the TIE earlier this month. 

The historic 24 North St. with a view of Park Square has been vacant for about two years, and Allegrone Companies plans to redevelop it and 30-34 North St. into 23 mixed-income units. The total estimated capital investment for both sets of apartments is $15.5 million. 

The 10-year tax increment exemption freezes the current value of the property, base value, and phases in the increased property taxes that result from the redevelopment. The increased property taxes will be phased in over 10 years, with 100 percent forgiveness of the incremental increase in residential property taxes in the first year, decreasing by 10 percent each subsequent year over the term.

Last month, Gov. Maura Healey visited the site and announced housing initiatives that are expected to bring more than 1,300 units online, including units in Pittsfield and at the historic site. 

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren pointed out that the TIE triggers Allegrone's ability to receive state tax incentives and grants, recalling that they could see as much as $3 million. 

"We have a vacant bank building that's completely empty and everything, and we're going to be able to put something in it, and part of this project does have commercial, but it's a lot of apartments too," he said. 

"So I mean, it's a lot of advantage to the city of Pittsfield." 

Ward 7 Councilor Katherine Moody said the $15 million invested in the downtown will pay dividends to the housing crisis, and in her five years of working at General Dynamics, she saw young engineers moving to the area struggle to find a place to rent or buy.  Moody had many questions about the proposal, as her constituents did, but felt they were answered. 

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