Election 2009: Malumphy Formally Announces for Pittsfield Mayor

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayoral candidate Pam Malumphy is formally announcing her candidacy on Thursday, Aug. 6, at noon on the steps of Pittsfield City Hall as the city is at a crossroads facing serious issues of public safety, jobs, and renovating two existing high schools versus building a new high school.

"When it comes to public safety, I know this isn't just a police department or a district attorney's office issue, it is our issue as a community and we desperately need a vocal advocate from City Hall leading the community to say 'we have no tolerance for violence or drugs in our community,'" Malumphy stated.

For the past three years, Malumphy has been the regional director for the Massachusetts Office of Business Development at which her chief responsibility is supporting the health of existing businesses. "I have a great record of working with dozens of businesses in our community in offering meaningful support and guidance," she said.

Among her top three campaign issues is the continued debate over renovating the two high schools or building a new single high school.

"When I was on the City Council, I petitioned to have the School Building Needs Commission re-activated and, over the years, the conversation turned into one of constructing a new high school. I have consistently opposed this position preferring instead to advocate for the renovation of our two great existing high schools."

Submitted by the Campaign to Elect Pam Malumphy.
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Dalton Redevelopment Authority Seeks to Attract Veterinarian

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Dalton Redevelopment Authority is looking at revamping zoning to make it easier for a veterinarian to open an office. 
 
This was prompted by resident Kevin Herkelman, an animal nutritionist who worked with veterinarians before retiring and moving to the area about a year ago.
 
He and his wife have many animals and found that area vet offices weren't accepting new patients or were booked out for a long time.
 
"When we moved here, we were looking for a vet. We have five dogs and a cat. I used to show dogs and things like that. When we tried to find a vet, we had a hard time even finding people taking new clients. So we ended up going over to Northampton. That's where we still are," he told a recent meeting of the authority.
 
He said it's more difficult to have to travel far, and even if residents have a veterinarian, it's likely in Pittsfield so they have to leave town. 
 
Currently a veterinary office is only allowed in a B1, R1, or I1 zone and must be 100 feet from a boundary.
 
Herkelman and Chair John Boyle have been looking for a suitable location to entice a vet to come to the area but zoning has been an issue as it is very restrictive. 
 
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