Governor Forms Search Committee for Dept. of Correction Commissioner

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BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced an update on the search process to identify the nextCommissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Correction, following the retirement of Commissioner Carol Mici last month.

The Administration has formeda six-member search committee, composed of diverse professionals and community leaders with wide-ranging expertise and lived experience, to guide a robust process to identify the new executive and administrative leader of the Department of Correction.

With administrative support from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), the Committee will guide the search process and provide multiple opportunities for stakeholder engagement. During the ongoing search, the Department remains under the leadership of Interim Commissioner Shawn Jenkins.  

Search Committee members include: 

  • Deirdre Calvert, Director of the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Addiction Services 

  • Reverend Rahsaan D. Hall, President and CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts 

  • David C. Henderson, MD, Psychiatrist-in-Chief at Boston Medical Center and Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry, at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine 

  • Sakieth Sako Long, Director of Operations for the Northeast Region at the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services 
  • Scott Semple, Retired Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Correction 

  • Yolanda Smith, Executive Director of Public Safety at Tufts University and former Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department Superintendent and Chief of Staff 

The search committee will begin the process by seeking stakeholder input about the most valued qualities and criteria for the DOC’s next commissioner. The search committee will then conduct a robust search and interview process for qualified candidates, culminating in a selection of finalists to be recommended to the Governor.  

 

 

 

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Dalton Zoning Board OKs Conversion of Zip's Bar into Apartments

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday approved the conversion of the former Zip's Bar & Billiards into four apartments. 
 
The owner, Ron Carver, submitted an application for a special permit requesting to convert the first floor of the tavern into residential apartments.  
 
"The former tenant went out of business. He was operating a bar/nightclub and had lost business and decided after COVID that it just wasn't worth his while to continue," board Chair Anthony Doyle said.
 
"So Mr. Carver is left with an empty commercial space, and the question is do you try to get another bar in there or do you do something else, and he opted to convert."
 
The detailed application that Carver submitted was described by board members as impressive. The notice of the public hearing was posted on April 23 and 30 to alert neighbors to come and speak. 
 
Despite the public hearing notice, no one attended the meeting to speak against the application, which is a good indication that the neighbors support it, Doyle said. 
 
Carver attended the meeting and provided a letter from one of the neighbors expressing their support for the change. 
 
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