Berkshire Athenaeum Thanks Employees with $34K in Bonuses from Bequest

The trustees vote to reward library workers with a bonus for their efforts during the pandemic. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Board of Library Trustees on Tuesday voted to disperse about $34,000 from the Fay Henry bequest to employees for their work during the pandemic.

Full-time employees will receive a one-time $1,000 bonus and part-time employees will receive a one-time $500 bonus.

The library has about 52 employees and 15 of them are full-time.

President Kathy Amuso proposed this to the board — including Berkshire Athenaeum Director Alex Reczkowski — for the first time during the panel's meeting on Tuesday.  

Amuso said that she wanted to make sure the library's custodians also receive the bonus.

"I think it's important work that went on," Amuso said. "And I think when other areas, other businesses were closed to the public, many employees weren't even coming in, everybody at the library really did their part and we were able to serve our community and we didn't serve it the same way, but we served it differently."

Fay J. Henry and her brother, Rodman R. Henry, were fifth-generation city residents who vowed to support the community with their life savings. She passed away in 2019 and he died in 2011.

In their will, they bequeathed funding to a variety of nonprofit organizations in Berkshire County, and about $350,000 of that went to the Berkshire Athenaeum.

Amuso's proposal was met with agreement across the board.

Member Gail Molari made the motion for approval.

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.