BMM Accounting Agency, Pittsfield Firm Merge

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Berkshire Money Management Tax and Accounting officially opened for business on Sept. 24, following its merger with Barry J. Clairmont CPA PC, a Pittsfield accounting practice serving individuals and business owners throughout the Berkshires.

BMM Tax provides tax preparation, bookkeeping, and forward-looking tax planning. The firm was founded by Allen Harris, its CEO, and the founder and CEO of Berkshire Money Management, and Jared Grisé, BMM Tax's co-founder, partner, and chief financial officer.

Barry Clairmont passed away just days after the merger became official. He had worked with Harris and Grisé since May 2025 to plan the transition of his accounting practice to BMM Tax. In a Sept. 24 letter, he told clients that he planned to remain with the firm as accountant emeritus, serving in a consultative role and providing continuity for his longtime clients.

"Barry and I worked together for decades," Harris said. "We referred our clients to each other's firms, and I was his client myself.  But more importantly, he was a dear friend. We'd travel together, dine together, hike together, talk about politics and finance. I'm going to miss him, but I'm grateful that every day I go into work, part of his legacy will be there."

Grisé will be the primary accountant working with clients. He had previously worked with Clairmont for nearly four years and then closely with him throughout the final year of planning for the merger. His background includes corporate accounting, financial analysis, compliance, and tax services.



"Our first job is to listen, continue getting to know Barry's clients, and make the transition as straightforward as we can," Grisé said. "From there, we can continue the tax work they rely on while looking ahead for planning opportunities that may help them keep more of their money."

The BMM Tax team also includes Director of Bookkeeping Alison Atwell and Director of Integrated Tax and Financial Planning Lauren Beckett. Atwell provides day-to-day bookkeeping services, including invoicing, payments, account reconciliations, month-end close processes, and financial reporting. Beckett works across BMM Tax and Berkshire Money Management to examine how tax decisions fit into a client's broader financial plan.

BMM Tax is a separate company from Berkshire Money Management. It serves individuals and businesses with more involved tax and accounting needs, including business owners, rental-property owners, households with income or assets in multiple states, people with trusts or inherited assets, and taxpayers receiving stock options or restricted stock units.

The firm is currently meeting with clients by appointment in Pittsfield. Its permanent office at 72 Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington is expected to open fully in November 2026. BMM Tax also works with clients virtually.

For more information, visit berkshiremmtax.com or call 413-200-9007.

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Rename

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday. 

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to rename the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection. 

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data.  Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost." 

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor. 

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