Farley-Bouvier Hires New Legislative Aide

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier has hired Lisa Fletcher-Udel as her new legislative aide.

Fletcher-Udel comes to the state representative’s office after having worked in human services for many years. Most recently, she served in a variety of positions at Berkshire Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Prior to Berkshire AHEC, Fletcher-Udel worked in several positions at Elder Services of Berkshire County. For the past year she has been a volunteer at Moments House.

“Lisa graduated from Pittsfield High School and Berkshire Community College, before getting her BA from Fairley Dickson College and returning to work in Pittsfield for many years.”  said Farley-Bouvier.  “Her knowledge of the 3rd Berkshire District, experience in nonprofit management and people skills made her an ideal choice for the position of legislative aide.”

Fletcher-Udel began her position on Dec. 1 Her responsibilities include coordinating the daily activities for Representative Farley-Bouvier, tracking bills through legislature, and receiving constituent requests and maintaining constituent service records.



“I am excited to be working with Representative Farley-Bouvier," she said. "I admire her commitment to the people of the 3rd Berkshire District and her passion for making Pittsfield and the state of Massachusetts a great place to live, work and play.”

Fletcher-Udel replaces Elizabeth Leibinger, who left to take a position at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.  

“Beth built an outstanding reputation for friendly, efficient constituent service.  I heard over and over again from Pittsfield residents how much she helped them,” said Farley-Bouvier.  “She is a bright, capable young woman and I know that she will go far. MCLA is fortunate to have her.”

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Berkshire Towns Can Tap State Seasonal Communities Resources

BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey announced that 18 additional municipalities across Massachusetts have been designated as Seasonal Communities, opening up new tools, support and grant funding to help them manage seasonal housing pressures. 
 
Created as part of the historic Affordable Homes Act signed into law by Governor Healey in 2024, the Seasonal Communities designation was designed to recognize Massachusetts communities that experience substantial variation in seasonal employment and to create distinctive tools to address their unique housing needs. The law also established the Seasonal Communities Advisory Council (SCAC).  
 
The Affordable Homes Act identified several communities to automatically receive the designation, including:   
  • All municipalities in the counties of Dukes and Nantucket;   
  • All municipalities with over 35 percent seasonal housing units in Barnstable County; and   
  • All municipalities with more than 40 percent seasonal housing units in Berkshire County. 
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To identify additional communities, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) reviewed available data, specifically focusing on cities and towns with high levels of short-term rentals and a high share of second- or vacation homes.
 
In Berkshire County, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, New Marlborough, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, West Stockbridge and Williamstown have been designated. 
 
"Our seasonal communities are a vital part of Massachusetts' cultural and economic fabric, but they're also home to essential workers, families, seniors, and longtime residents who deserve a place to live year-round," said Governor Healey. "That's why we're committed to supporting these communities with innovative solutions like the Seasonal Communities designation to meet their unique needs, and I'm thrilled that we're offering this opportunity to 18 additional communities across the state. Everyone who calls these places home should be able to live, work and grow here, no matter the season." 
 
As with the statutorily identified communities, acceptance of the designation for municipalities is voluntary and requires a local legislative vote. HLC will open an application for newly eligible communities that haven't accepted the Seasonal Communities designation to request consideration. 
 
The Affordable Homes Act created several new tools for communities who accept the Seasonal Communities designation to be able to:  
  • Acquire deed restrictions to create or preserve year-round housing 
  • Develop housing with a preference for municipal workers, so that our public safety personnel, teachers, public works and town hall workers have a place to live 
  • Establish a Year-Round Housing Trust Fund to create and preserve affordable and attainable housing for year-round residents 
  • Create year-round housing for artists 
  • Allow seasonal communities to develop a comprehensive housing needs assessment 
  • Permit tiny homes to be built and used as year-round housing 
  • Permit year-round, attainable residential development on undersized lots 
  • Increase the property tax exemption for homes that are the owners' primary residence 
 
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