BRTA Board OKs Contract for Administrator, Reviews Open Meeting Complaint

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority Board finalized the new administrator's contract on Thursday.

Kathleen Lambert accepted the position in September pending contract negotiations. The negotiations were halted at the board's meeting on Oct. 14 as they failed to have a quorum.

On Thursday, the board revised the language for the termination clause for performance reviews so they can be done as needed.

The BRTA also spoke about language for a response to an Open Meeting Law complaint made by board member Rene Wood.

Wood said the board violated Open Meeting at its meeting on Sept. 25, when they were speaking about the contract negotiations because it wasn't listed on the agenda. The agenda item was listed as "Administrator Search Update."

Executive Director Roobert Malnati was asked to respond to Wood and the violation. One of the requests was for legal counsel to offer an Open Meeting Law class to the board . 

"Legal counsel presented in person or Zoom class or Open Meeting Law, including this section that was offered back at our previous meeting in August, it will be offered again that we invite KP Law to provide an Open Meeting Law class if that is so desired," Malnati said.

Another note Wood added was for the board to remove a sentence from the Sept. 9 minutes regarding Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti's statement that Wood asking in the meeting for the advisory board to vote on Malnati writing a letter of support for Rep. Leigh Davis' microtransit bill was in violation of Open Meeting law.

"The minutes are the minutes. And so you want clarity on that. We can certainly give clarity to who made that statement, but it was part of that meeting. It was part of that discussion, and it should stand, and it's an opinion that was stated," Malnati said.

Marchetti clarified that he should not have stated it in that way but that it was still discouraged from being discussed.

"The frequently asked questions is pretty clear that you should not be bringing up a topic, and the Attorney General's Office strongly encourages that you postpone any discussion or action on an item," Marchetti said. "What if it's controversial or maybe of particular interest to the public? And I think the issue that we were going to discuss with Rep. Davis is microtransit bill, which I think is highly something that the folks in the public want to know more about.

"So going forward, I would have been against the recommendation of the thing. My misspeaking and saying it's a violation of Open Meeting Law, it's not a violation, but it's strongly encouraged not to do it." 

The board motioned to for Malnati's response.

Malnati also brought up that the ridership number for September is 29 percent higher than the former September where it was not fare free. "Fare free is helping our ridership" he stated.


Tags: BRTA,   open meeting complaint,   

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Friday Front Porch Feature: This Luxury Home Has Plenty of Amenities

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LENOX, Mass. — Are you looking for a big house to enjoy your days with a big movie theater, a sauna, and more? Then this is the house for you.

Built in 2004, this seven-bedroom, and nine-bathroom home is 7,073 square feet on more than an acre. The home comes with an elevator to the lower level to access a theater, sauna, gym, wine cellar, massage room, and its very own soda fountain. 

The home also has a guest house with a saltwater pool. A multi-car garage greets you with heated floors.

The this home is listed for $4,950,000 and is located in the 125-acre, gated Pinecroft compound.

We spoke to Leslie Chesloff, the listing agent with William Pitt Sotheby's.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Chesloff: This gated Berkshire stone estate truly redefines luxury living in the Berkshires. What sets it apart is the rare combination of resort-style amenities and complete privacy. The property offers Canyon Ranch-level wellness living with a full spa experience at home — including a sauna, massage room, and gym — plus an eight-seat hi-def theater with wine cellar for entertaining. The heated, gunite saltwater pool and spa are complemented by a fully equipped pool house with a guest suite and complete kitchen, perfect for extended family or guests.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

The moment you step inside, you're struck by the quality and craftsmanship — those 300-year-old reclaimed timber floors set an immediate tone of authenticity and warmth. The scale is impressive but never overwhelming; this is a home designed for gracious living, not just show. The natural light, cathedral ceilings, and thoughtful flow between spaces create an inviting atmosphere that balances grandeur with genuine comfort.

How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of this home?

This home feels like a private wellness retreat meets sophisticated family estate. There's a serene, spa-like quality throughout — enhanced by features like the sauna, steam shower, and massage room — but it never feels clinical or cold. The Berkshire stone exterior and reclaimed timber floors ground the home in a sense of place and permanence. It's designed for people who appreciate the finer things but want to actually live well — whether that's screening a film in the eight-seat theater with wine from your own cellar, hosting poolside gatherings, or simply unwinding in your own spa sanctuary.

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

This is perfect for the discerning buyer who values wellness, privacy, and culture in equal measure. I envision someone who spends their days hiking or exploring the Berkshires, then comes home to unwind in the sauna or pool. They might entertain guests in the theater wine room, host multi-generational gatherings with family staying in the pool house guest suite (which has a full kitchen), and appreciate being minutes from Tanglewood, world-class dining, and Berkshire arts.

This could be an executive looking for a primary residence with work-from-home flexibility (there's an office/bedroom suite), a wellness-focused family, or empty nesters who want to host adult children and grandchildren in style and comfort.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

Picture Saturday morning: you're sipping coffee on the terrace overlooking your heated saltwater pool, planning a day at Tanglewood. Your guests are making breakfast in the pool house kitchen — they have their own private retreat but are steps away when you're ready to gather. Evening arrives, and you screen a favorite film in your eight-seat theater, selecting a perfect bottle from your wine cellar. This isn't just a home; it's a lifestyle that brings resort-level wellness, entertainment, and hospitality to your doorstep — all within a secure, maintenance-free compound where nature meets luxury.

Are there any standout design features or recent renovations?

Absolutely. The home includes an elevator for multilevel accessibility, which is both practical and forward-thinking. The lower level is exceptionally well-conceived — a true entertainment and wellness wing featuring the eight-seat hi-def theater, wine cellar, sauna, gym, massage room, and even a charming soda fountain. The gourmet kitchen has been recently updated, customized wet bar, while outdoor living is elevated with the heated gunite saltwater pool/spa, firepit, and that incredible pool house with guest suite and full kitchen. Also, new HVAC system and heated driveway.

Thoughtful details like cedar closets, steam showers, central vacuum, and backup generator show this home was built to the highest standards.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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