MountainOne Bank Hires AVP, Community Mortgage Lending Specialist

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — MountainOne hired Jason "Jay" Bianchi to join the residential lending team as AVP, Community Mortgage Lending Specialist. 
 
Reporting directly to the Head of Residential Lending, Bianchi will work out of the Berkshires, and serve as a member of the Bank's Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Committee.
 
Bianchi's primary job responsibilities will include promoting the Bank's overall CRA efforts through customer outreach, assisting potential borrowers with residential mortgages in underserved areas, enhancing community engagement through a series of financial literacy programs, and partnering with federal, state, and local affordable housing organizations on down-payment-assistance programs.
 
"We are excited to have Jay join MountainOne," said Peter Radigan, SVP, residential and consumer lending officer. "We are eager to grow our lending team in the Berkshires to meet the credit needs of our community."
 
Bianchi holds a degree in Business Administration from Berkshire Community College and brings over 15 years of banking experience to MountainOne Bank. Previously, he worked for NBT Bank – in both New York and New England – and Greylock Federal Credit Union in Berkshire County. In addition, he brings a CRA-related background and extensive experience in residential lending, community engagement, and financial counseling.
 
Bianchi has a history of volunteerism, with his efforts focused on mental health awareness and advocacy, suicide prevention, animal welfare, environmental causes, and youth sports. In his free time, you can find him digging in the garden, wandering in the woods, playing in the snow and, in general, letting the music move him. He resides in Pittsfield with his family.

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Moresi Companies Settle Discrimination Allegations

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A local developer and property management company has agreed to pay $40,000 to settle fair housing complaints on its properties. 
 
Moresi Commercial Investments LLC and Moresi & Associates Property Management LLC, owned by David Moresi, were alleged to have discriminated against families with children in renting out apartments at 262-268 Ashland St. and 16 and 20 Blackinton St.
 
The allegations are that the apartments were being advertised as "student housing" and that inquiries from "testers" stating they had children were referred to other apartment listings. Fair housing laws prohibits discrimination, including refusing to rent to families with children or to students. 
 
Moresi has denied the allegations but agreed, according to the agreement, to "enter in this assurance in order to resolve this matter without further costly and time-consuming litigation." The company also agreed to adopt a non-discrimination policy, have employees attend trainings on fair housing rules and to inspect for and abate any lead hazards. 
 
The Ashland Street property was sold last October and the Blackinton buildings last August. 
 
All of the buildings are located in the neighborhood of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, which has historically catered to students. That's changed somewhat in recent years, particularly with the well-known Boardman building being converted into recovery housing. An editorial in the college's Beacon newspaper last year lamented the lack of affordable off-campus housing for students and noted Moresi's apartments were no longer available. 
 
The investigation in Moresi's rentals dates to 2018, when the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center conducted three tests. The first tester inquired about a three-bedroom apartment for themselves and roommates and the second for a couple with a 3-year-old child. The second was told the apartment would not be suitable because of college students on the property and was directed to units in Adams and Williamstown.  
 
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