Lanesborough TA Tapped as Adams Community Development Director

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass.— Lanesborough's town administrator has been tapped as Adams' director of community development. 

On the agenda for the Select Board's meeting on Wednesday is a ratification of Gina Dario as director of community development. She has worked for Lanesborough since late 2022, when she was hired as town administrator. 

Dario is also a native of Adams and will replace Donna Cesan, the retired community development director who stepped in last year to temporarily fill the vacant spot. 

The town's job posting explains that the community development director manages community and economic programs and develops work plans and programs to meet Adams' growth and development goals.  

This includes managing the Community Development Block Grant Program funding and procuring, negotiating, and managing professional service contracts. 


The position reports to the Town Administrator Nicholas Caccamo, who was hired last year.  

Lanesborough Select Board Chair Deborah Maynard on Tuesday said Dario had informed Town Hall and all boards and committees. 
 
"She plans on leaving mid-October," Maynard wrote. "Hopefully, we will have candidates to interview before then."

The pay grade is level 14, between about $80,000 per year and $118,000.  A Bachelor's Degree, Master's preferred, in a related field and a minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in project management or local planning is required, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Before her work in Lanesborough, Dario was a former state manager with the Australian Electoral Commission in Perth, Western Australia, and before that, she worked as an assistant commissioner with the Australian Electoral Commission in Canberra, the country's capital.

She grew up in the Berkshires before attending Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley and obtaining a master's degree in international public affairs from Columbia University in New York City.


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Cheshire Hires Adams Officer as New Police Chief

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Matthew Wright shakes hands with board members and Town Administrator Jennifer Morse on Friday after being offered the post. 
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Adams Police Sgt. Matthew Wright has been tapped as Cheshire's next police chief. 
 
The four present board members unanimously voted to hire him after an interview on Friday afternoon held during a special Selectmen's meeting. 
 
Wright was the only finalist for a police chief search that lasted several months. The only public who attended, other than iBerkshires, was interim Police Chief Timothy Garner and Wright's wife. 
 
The board will meet in executive session with Wright for contract negotiations then set an open session to establish a start date. 
 
Board member Scott McWhirt recused himself from the interview as he had worked with Wright in the Adams Police Department prior to his retirement in 2016.
 
Wright highlighted his deep roots in Cheshire, where he was born and raised, being a Hoosac Valley High School graduate and earning an associate degree in criminal justice from Berkshire Community College and later a bachelor's from Westfield State University.
 
Now, he is raising his own family in town, following in his father's footsteps by giving back to the community by being a volunteer coach and participates in local festivities.
 
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