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Ward 4 candidates James Conant and Andrew Wrinn place their names in the tumbler for City Clerk Michelle Benjamin to draw out. Wrinn took the first spot on the ballot.

Pittsfield Draws City Council, School Committee Ballots

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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City Clerk Michelle Benjamin draws names on Thursday for their placement order on the ballot for the November election. 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The ballot positions for the City Council and School Committee are set for the November election.
 
City Clerk Michelle Benjamin drew names for ballot positions in the 2021 municipal election on Thursday. The names were randomized in a tumbler that has reportedly been used by the city for many years.
 
At-large candidates Craig Benoit, Karen Kalinowsky and Earl Persip III attended the drawing to see their placement and place their own names in the tumbler. Incumbent Yuki Cohen was drawn for the first position and Kalinowsky in the last.
 
Cohen was first, incumbent Pete White second, incumbent Peter Marchetti third, Benoit fourth, incumbent Persip fifth, and Kalinowsky sixth.
 
The wards are seeing a great deal of new leadership in at least one-third of the council this year. Four of the councilors have announced that they will not seek re-election.
 
Ward 1 candidates Kenneth Warren and Andrea Wilson were both present and Warren was pulled for the first position. Councilor Helen Moon will not be seeking re-election.
 
Neither of the Ward 2 candidates attended. Matthew Kudlate was drawn for the top position above Charles Kronick. Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi and Ward 4 Councilor Chris Connell announced together that they are hanging up their hats.
 
Ward 3 candidate Kevin Sherman is running unchallenged to replace Nicholas Caccamo, who is stepping off the council to focus on his next career steps.
 
Ward 4 candidates James Conant and Andrew Wrinn both showed up to see their placement. Wrinn wound up in the first spot and Conant in the second.
 
Ward 5 incumbent Patrick Kavey is running unchallenged for re-election.
 
Ward 6 candidate Edward Carmel attended the drawing to see where he would be placed agaisnt incumbent Dina Guiel Lampiasi, who is running for re-election. Guiel Lampiasi came out in the first spot with Carmel in the second.
 
Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Maffuccio is running unchallenged for re-election.
 
School Committee candidates Vicky Smith, Sara Hathaway, and Bill Tyer attended the drawing to see where they would be placed.  Smith wound up in third place, Hathaway in seventh, and Tyer last. 
 
The order is William Cameron, Mark Brazeau, Smith, Katie Lauzon, Nyanna Slaughter, Alison McGee, Hathaway, Karen Reis Kaveney Murray, Dan Elias and Tyer. 
 
There are 10 candidates for the six seats on the School Committee this year and half of them are incumbents: Cameron, Brazeau, Slaughter, McGee and Elias. Chairwoman Katherine Yon is not running for re-election. 

Tags: ballot,   election 2021,   municipal election,   


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Central Berkshire School Officials OK $35M Budget

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee approved a $35 million budget for fiscal 2025 during its meeting on Thursday.
 
Much of the proposed spending plan is similar to what was predicted in the initial and tentative budget presentations, however, the district did work with the Finance subcommittee to further offset the assessments to the towns, Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis said. 
 
"What you're going see in this budget is a lower average assessment to the towns than what you saw in the other in the tentative budget that was approved," she said. 
 
The fiscal 2025 budget is $35,428,892, a 5.56 percent or $1,867,649, over this year's $33,561,243.
 
"This is using our operating funds, revolving revenue or grant revenue. So what made up the budget for the tentative budget is pretty much the same," Director of Finance and Operations Gregory Boino said.
 
"We're just moving around funds … so, we're using more of the FY25 rural aid funds instead of operating funds next year."
 
Increases the district has in the FY25 operating budget are from active employee health insurance, retiree health insurance, special education out-of-district tuition, temporary bond principal and interest payment, pupil transportation, Berkshire County Retirement contributions, and the federal payroll tax. 
 
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