Pittsfield Coop Bank Hires Vice President, Commercial Lending Officer

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Cooperative Bank (Coop Bank) announced the hiring of Zachary Gundler to its commercial lending team as a Vice President. 
 
He has experience in commercial lending, commercial real estate assessment, credit risk analysis, portfolio management, relationship management and business development.  
 
Gundler joins Coop Bank after working for the previous ten years at Berkshire Bank in their commercial lending and business banking departments. For the last four and a half years, Gundler has been a Vice President, Business Banking Officer managing customers with annual revenues ranging from $3 million to $25 million and originating loans up to $3 million.   
 
"Coop Bank is excited to add Zach to our growing team," said CEO J. Jay Anderson. "He has significant experience in lending, commercial real estate valuation, relationship management and development, and risk analysis."
 
Gundler has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Masters of Business Administration from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. He currently serves on the Vermont Banking Association Commercial Lending Committee and previously served on the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Alumni Board. He was born and raised in Berkshire County and currently resides in Pittsfield with his family.

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Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis. 

Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report. 

During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report. 

"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions.  As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday. 

"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements." 

He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report. 

"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote. 

Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.

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