image description — Blanca Durant and Kristi Nastars have both been promoted.

Staff Changes at Berkshire County Arc

04:02PM / Monday, March 21, 2022Print Story | Email Story

Sonja Stewart has been promoted to Vice President of Community Services, and Pam Kight has been promoted to Director of Employment and Community-Based Day Services

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Arc (BCArc) announced four staffing changes.

Blanca Durant has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer. Previously she was Vice President of Finance. She joined BCArc in 1998 as an accounting associate, became the Accounting Supervisor in 1999, and was appointed Director of Finance in 2011.

Kristi Nastars has been promoted to Vice President of Human Resources. Previously she was Director of Human Resources. She has been with BCArc since 2017.

Sonja Stewart has been promoted to Vice President of Community Services. She will oversee Family Support & Advocacy, Employment & Vocational Services, Day Habilitation programs, and Community-Based Day Services. Previously she was Director of Family Support & Advocacy. She recently earned her doctorate in Education (ED.D.). She has been with BCArc since 2016.

Pam Kight has been promoted to Director of Employment and Community-Based Day Services. Previously she oversaw the Agency's Community-based Day Programs. She has been with the agency since 1997.

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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.

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