Realtor Associate Joins Tucker Welch Properties

Michael Kelly

Most recently an IBM executive with the Solution Sales Group for 10 years, Kelly moved from San Diego to the Berkshires (during the blizzard of 1996) for his career with Oracle and became a Berkshire area enthusiast.

 His work experience ranges from the high-tech world of IBM, Oracle and  Computer Associates to teaching in Darman and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and San Diego's middle schools, to university admissions for Colorado Women's College and Warborough College in Oxford, England.

"We are so pleased to have Michael join our company," said Tucker Welch, principal of the real estate firm. "He is a proven solution manager who can help real estate buyers and sellers find the common ground needed to get the deal done."

Kelly graduated from Colorado College and did graduate work at the University of San Diego. He is a competitive race walker and masters swimmer.

He and his wife, Dr. Rebecca Johnson, live in Richmond and belong to the Lenox Club and St. Ann's Church in Lenox.

Tucker Welch Properties has offices in Richmond and Hancock and in  New Lebanon, N.Y., and serves the Berkshires and New York's Columbia County. There are eight broker associates affiliated with the firm.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.