Library Board Only Race in Williamstown Election

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Voters in May will have one contested election on the ballot.
 
Four candidates have had their nomination papers certified for two available three-year seats on the Milne Public Library Board of Trustees in a race that voters will sort out when they go to the polls on Tuesday, May 12.
 
Janet Curran, Martin Mitsoff, Kathleen Schultze and Michael Sussman — all potential newcomers to the seven-person board — have been certified as candidates for the two open seats on the library's governing body.
 
Those two positions along with five other local government posts will be on the ballot for the annual town election.
 
For the Select Board, only incumbents Stephanie Boyd and Shana Dixon submitted papers to be returned to their three-year seats.
 
A third seat on the five-person board also is on the ballot. Newcomer Nathaniel Budington submitted papers to run for the final year on an unexpired term vacated by Jeffrey Johnson.
 
Two other candidates are running unopposed to retain their seats after Tuesday's deadline to submit nomination papers expired. Stephen Dew is running for another five-year seat on the Housing Authority, and Roger Lawrence is running for another five years on the Planning Board.
 
The last day to register to vote in the spring election is Friday, May 1. The last day to request a mail-in ballot is Tuesday, May 5.
 
In-person voting is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 12 at Williamstown Elementary School.
 
The annual town meeting — also open to all registered voters — is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, at 7 p.m., at WES.
 
That meeting will make the final decision on the town's spending plan for fiscal year 2027, which begins July 1, and address several other issues, including: approval of the town's grants under the Community Preservation Act, proposed changes to the town's accessory dwelling unit bylaw to bring it into compliance with state law, a proposal that the town adopt provisions of the commonwealth's Seasonal Communities law and three articles submitted by way of citizens petition.
 
On Monday evening Town Manager Robert Menicocci told the Select Board that three sets of petitions were submitted by that day's deadline. One would ban the use of biosolids as fertilizer or soil amendments, one would expand the town's ban on second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides on town-owned land to include all private property and the third would amend the 2015's bylaw banning single-use plastic bags and polystyrene food containers, Select Board Chair Stephanie Boyd told her colleagues on Monday.

Tags: election 2026,   town elections,   

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Williamstown's O'Grady Remembered as 'Pillar of Support'

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – Present and former town officials expressed grief this week at the news that longtime Council on Aging Executive Director Brian O’Grady died last week.
 
The passing of O’Grady, 69, who served the town in that role since 1999, was framed as a both a professional and deeply personal loss by two of the town managers he served under during his 27 years in Williamstown.
 
“When I came here a little over four years ago, I had spent my career in government work, primarily working in the human services realm,” current Town Manager Robert Menicocci said at Monday evening’s meeting of the Select Board. “This was my first foray into the broader municipal government. But Brian's career had always been in the human service realm.
 
“It was a bit of a comfort for me to come into a setting where I could speak to someone who was part of my team but also, we spoke the same language and got into the work for the same reason. We all are here to serve the public, but I think there's a special calling for some who work in the human service realm to support folks on their hardest days. It's a big part of how government functions and serves as part of the safety net. And Brian fully embodied that every single day.”
 
One of Menicocci’s predecessors, Peter Fohlin, left a message of condolence on O’Grady’s online obituary.
 
“I am heartbroken to read of Brian's illness and passing,” Fohlin wrote. “From 1999 until I retired in 2015, Brian was the staunchest member of the Town of Williamstown team. Strong beliefs but always a kind heart. A pillar of support and energy in the aftermath of [Tropical Storm] Irene in 2011. Always working to improve the Harper Center facility and programs for his community. Respected by everyone and loved by all. The best friend.”
 
Fohlin was joined on iBerkshires.com’s obituary by O’Grady’s colleagues at Elder Services of Berkshire County.
 
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