BART Announces Three New Trustees

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ADAMS, Mass  Berkshire Arts & Technology (BART) Charter Public School announces three recent additions to its Board of Trustees: Tom Bernard, Alison Bost, and Yina Moore.

Bernard, the former mayor of North Adams, is currently the President and CEO of Berkshire United Way. For the past 18 years, he has worked with various cultural, higher education, and public service institutions in Berkshire County and Western Massachusetts. 

Bernard has experience in development and institutional advancement, government relations, finance and administration, strategic planning, economic development, communications, K-12 education, and community philanthropy.

Bost is the former Deputy General Counsel of Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP. She has over 23 years of experience as a lawyer representing clients in various matters, including litigation, appeals, labor and employment matters and legal ethics and professional responsibility matters.

Bost also served for many years on her firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, including as Vice-Chair. Alison currently also serves on the Board of Child Care of the Berkshires, Inc.

Moore is the Founder and Executive Director of Adams Theater, which is currently under development to become a multi-functional performing arts center that will play a key role in revitalizing downtown Adams, MA. She has professional experience that combines nearly two decades of work at investment banks, architectural firms, and non-profit organizations.

Yina was a Director of the Fixed Income Strategy Team at Credit Suisse in New York City before obtaining a Master of Architecture Degree from Harvard University. Working predominantly in the Berkshires, Yina is passionate about the interdisciplinary work between economic development, design, and cultural development. 

They join the following in their service as BART Trustees: George Ambriz; Rhon Ernest-Jones; Milton Ferguson; Marcel Kouame; Catherine McKeen, Vice Chair; Gina Puc, Chair; Fred Puddester, Treasurer; and Steve Simon, Secretary. 


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Adams Review Library, COA and Education Budgets

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — The Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen reviewed the public services, Hoosac Valley Regional School District and McCann Technical School budgets on Tuesday. 
 
The workshop at the Adams Free Library was the third of four joint sessions to review the proposed $19 million fiscal 2025 budget. The first workshop covered general government, executive, finance and technology budgets; the second public works, community development and the Greylock Glen. 
 
The Council on Aging and library budgets have increases for wages, equipment, postage and software. The Memorial Day budget is level-funded at $1,450 for flags and for additional expenses the American Legion might have; it had been used to hire bagpipers who are no longer available. 
 
The COA's budget is up 6.76 percent at $241,166. This covers three full-time positions including the director and five regular per diem van drivers and three backup drivers. Savoy also contracts with the town at a cost of $10,000 a year based on the number of residents using its services. 
 
Director Sarah Fontaine said the governor's budget has increased the amount of funding through the Executive Office of Elder Affairs from $12 to $14 per resident age 60 or older. 
 
"So for Adams, based on the 2020 Census data, says we have 2,442 people 60 and older in town," she said. "So that translates to $34,188 from the state to help manage Council on Aging programs and services."
 
The COA hired a part-time meal site coordinator using the state funds because it was getting difficult to manage the weekday lunches for several dozen attendees, said Fontaine. "And then as we need program supplies or to pay for certain services, we tap into this grant."
 
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