Election 2017: Candidate Forums & Debates

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This is a listing of public forums and debates for candidates in the municipal elections in North Adams and Pittsfield and for the special election for state representative in the 1st Berkshire District. This list will be updated as information is received. If your organization is hosting a forum, please send the details to info@iberkshires.com.
 
Thursday, Aug. 31
The North Adams Public Library will be hosting the candidates for mayor at an informal coffee klatch at 6 p.m. in the library's main reading room. Candidates Thomas Bernard and Rachel Branch have confirmed; Peter Oleskiewicz, Robert Moulton, and Robert Martell have also been invited.
 
Monday, Sept. 11
ProAdams will hold a public forum at 7 p.m. at Bounti-Fare Restaurant for the candidates for the 1st Berkshire state representative election. All five candidates, Democratic and Republican, have been contacted and will attend. Each candidate will have up to 10 minutes to present their ideas and platform to the audience. ProAdams has suggested that these topics be covered: Education, Economic Development and Community Growth.
 
This is not a debate. During the presentations by the candidates, there will be no questions. Following the presentations, there will be an hour for the candidates and the audience to mingle and have conversations.
 
Thursday, Sept. 14
The North Adams Chamber of Commerce is hosting a forum for mayoral candidates from 5:30 to 7 at Greylock Works, the former Cariddi Mill. The candidates will meet with the business community from 5 to 5:30.
 
Monday, Sept. 18
A candidate forum for state representative in the 1st Berkshire will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Lanesborough Town Hall community room. State Rep. Paul Mark of the 2nd Berkshire will be the moderator. The forum is sponsored by the Lanesborough and Williamstown Democratic town committees.
 
Wednesday, Sept. 20
The Williamstown League of Women Voters will host a forum for state representative candidates from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Williamstown Town Hall.
 
Thursday, Oct. 19
The North Adams Chamber of Commerce will host a forum for City Council and School Committee candidates from 5:30 to 7 at Greylock Works. The candidates will meet with the business community from 5 to 5:30. 
 

Tags: 1st Berkshire,   candidate forum,   city election,   election 2017,   special election,   state representative,   


If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town officials have heaved a sigh of relief with the state's certification of free cash for the first time in more than three years.
 
The town's parade of employees through its financial offices the past few years put it behind on closing out its fiscal years between 2021 and 2023. A new treasurer and two part-time accountants have been working the past year in closing the books and filing with the state.
 
The result is the town will have $571,000 in free cash on hand as it begins budget deliberations. However, town meeting last year voted that any free cash be used to replenish the stabilization account
 
Some $231,000 in stabilization was used last year to reduce the tax rate — draining the account. The town's had minimal reserves for the past nine months.
 
Chairman Robert Norcross said he didn't want residents to think the town was suddenly flush with cash. 
 
"We have to keep in mind that we have no money in the stabilization fund and we now have a free cash, so we have now got to replenish that account," he said. "So it's not like we have this money to spend ... most of it will go into the stabilization fund." 
 
The account's been hit several times over the past few fiscal years in place of free cash, which has normally been used for capital spending, to offset the budget and to refill stabilization. Free cash was last used in fiscal 2020.
 
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