Cheshire Selectman Threatens to Resign Over Town Administrator Candidate

CHESHIRE, Mass. — The withdrawal of a favored town administrator candidate and the threatened resignation of one of the two remaining selectmen if he was hired has town officials wondering how to move forward.

Selectwoman Carol Francesconi on Tuesday night read a letter from town administrator applicant Edmund St. John IV stating that he would like to withdraw his name.

Last week the board was split between their two top candidates out of three: Francesconi wanted to hire St. John while Selectman Robert Ciskowski favored Thomas Spiro, the former program coordinator at Elms College's Greenfield campus and town administrative aide in Conway.

St. John stated in his letter that after receiving feedback about the board's discussions, he decided to step away.

"This was made upon my reflections of the interview process as well as feedback I have received of the board's deliberations," St. John wrote. "My hope is that by withdrawing the town can move forward in its search for a town administrator that would be a better fit for the selectmen."

Ciskowski then pulled a letter from his own pocket that stated his resignation as a selectman. He said he was willing to vote in favor of St. John but would not remain on the board.

"I just think it would be a difficult time. Ed is a great person and I have worked with him," he said. "He has a lot of fine qualities, but I think there is a philosophical difference and on my part too much of a generational difference."

The letter stated that he felt pressure to hire St. John and that he would not work well with him.

Ciskowski pocketed the letter and stated that he did not need to submit it to the town clerk at this point.

He then asked Francesconi if she would consider voting for Spiro.

"I liked his calmness and his experience with the variety of jobs he had," he said. "I think Ed could do it but he couldn't do it with me. I would have trouble with that. It would not be good for the town."

Francesconi said she would not vote for Spiro because she not think he was the best candidate for Cheshire.

"I am not going to vote for Mr. Spiro because I just don't think he is right for the town," she said. "He came in here not knowing anything about our town and that did not impress me."

She also wondered why he was not hired as town administrator in Conway after essentially holding all of the responsibilities for years.

The selectmen first thought it may be best just to reopen the posting to new candidates and those who have already applied, however, outgoing Town Administrator Mark Webber advised against this because the selectmen could still be split again in the end.

Ciskowski added that he feared Spiro would not apply again and the town would lose him.

Francesconi suggested hiring an Interim town administrator who could work for six months until the May election that would fill the board back up to three members. The job could be posted so that after the election the interviews could be held. There would be no way for a tie.

Ciskowski said he had concerns about a new member with no experience making such a decision.

"I think you and I are best suited to pick the administrator than a fresh green board member," he said. "I would be worried with a new board if someone came in, they would be overwhelmed or they may come in with an agenda."

The Selectmen agreed that they did not know who they would bring on as an interim town administrator. Ciskowski only said he would not want St. John to be chosen.

The third option would expedite the process and the town could hold a special election in roughly two months. The posting could be made a few weeks before a special election and the full board could have interviews then.

Webber, who planned to leave on November 1, said he could "hang on" for two months.

"Let's think about it and we will decide next week one way or the other," Francesconi said.

State Education Officials Visit Pittsfield on 413 Day

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:19AM / Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike chats with youngsters in the Boys & Girls Club Children's Center.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — State education officials stopped in Pittsfield and North Adams as a part of Monday's "413 Day" tour to highlight early education and early college opportunities. 

At the Boys and Girls Club of the Berkshires child care center in Pittsfield, Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike heard from community-based preschool educators about workforce needs and the impact of the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative. Some credited the program for creating an official connection between early education and public school. 

Zrike, only 11 days in his position, said having kids come through the elementary school doors with a powerful preschool or early childhood experience is "significant." Last year, as part of a multi-year initiative, the Pittsfield Public Schools were awarded $250,000 through the CPPI to expand access to preschool for 3-and 4-year-olds across the city.

"We know that early childhood educators are woefully underpaid in many places. We also know that the supports and training so that we can retain some of the quality people is something we've got to continue to work on to enhance the quality, but we're off to, I think, a good start," Zrike said. 

"And I come today to learn from another community and to better understand the infrastructure that you built here in Pittsfield." 

Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips said what the district really wants is for students to come into kindergarten ready, and readiness goes beyond academic skills.  

"It's very much a social emotional readiness," she said. 

"It's ready to learn, which means knowing how to cut, knowing how to walk in line, knowing how to share, and I think those are the pieces through early education where it's important for us to partner so that when the handoff comes, we are ready. It's important for us to approach this as a continuum. Not just we are pre-K through 12. No, we are a community continuum, all of us focused on the support of our students." 

Mayor Peter Marchetti said part of this, to him, is creating a level playing field for all students to start in, "And if we can create that field at 3 years old, rather than third grade, we're miles ahead of it."