DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board has appointed Lori Venezia as the new executive assistant to the town manager. She started her role on Monday.
Venezia grew up in Dalton and still has family in the area. She said she has a strong childhood connection to the community and is interested in making sure it remains a safe and caring community.
"I think it'll help me be in their shoes and put myself in their position and share their feelings and share their concerns," she said.
In this role, Venezia expressed her commitment to supporting the town manager by assisting them to ensure they are successful and meeting deadlines.
She said she would keep the town manager informed of any issues, help with the organization of town meetings, and support the work of committees.
"I'm hoping to, you know, reintroduce myself to people, and I was just amazed at the different number of people that I'm going to get an opportunity to work with and the diversity in the work that there's going to be," Venezia said.
"So, for example, interacting with the different committees, I think, is going to allow me to wear different hats and keep it interesting and enjoyable."
The Select Board approved the appointment of Venezia during its meeting on Feb. 24.
During the meeting, Venezia said she noticed that there is a lot of passion within the community.
"I'm happy that a lot of that there's a lot of representation at the meeting. I think that's a good sign," she said.
Venezia has worked in administrative support roles for more than 25 years, since her first job out of college at Mass Mutual as an administrative assistant in the human resources department.
She has particularly worked in the nonprofit and health-care sectors, including Pioneer Valley United Way.
She said she was driven to this career path because it presented an opportunity to utilize her skills, including her "strong" attention to detail, coordination, and project management.
When she moved from Springfield to Adams, she was looking for a local job opportunity and landed a position at a law firm as a legal assistant.
Venezia has a bachelor of science in human resource management from Western New England University.
Although she has not worked in the government sector previously, she has experience as a liaison between Bay State Health and government officials.
In this role, she coordinated with government officials from her role supporting the Government and Community Relations team at Bay State Health.
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Pittsfield Council OKs Privacy Measure, Sees Bridge Update
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
The state plans to remove some of crumbling concrete on the Dalton Avenue bridge and wrap its repairs into a project with the rail trail.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council is taking steps to protect its own privacy, as well as public comment speakers' privacy.
On Tuesday, councilors voted to remove their home addresses from city documents and websites and replace them with 70 Allen St., or City Hall, to improve safety. It was brought forward by Ward 4 Councilor James Conant, Ward 7 Councilor Katherine Moody, Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren, and Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham.
"This is an easy proposal to support," Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi said.
While this doesn't completely block their addresses from public view, as they are listed elsewhere as residents, it makes them a little harder to access.
Moody pointed out that a Virginia city councilor was set on fire last year by a member of the public. NBC News reported that the attack stemmed from a personal matter.
"I don't think anybody worries about me being able to defend myself, but I do have children, and I worry for them," Moody explained.
Warren pointed out that they have done the same for those who speak at public comment. When he was first elected into office years ago, people picketed at his home for his stance on a School Committee issue.
"Back then, it wasn't that big a deal. Now we find ourselves in very divisive times," Warren said.
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