Berkshire Regional Planning Staff
Nathaniel W. Karns, AICP - Executive DirectorNKarns@berkshireplanning.org
Agency Administration, Economic & Community Development, Transportation Planning, Regional Planning
Responsible for overall operation of the agency, under the direction of the Commission. Represents the agency with local, regional, state and federal officials and agencies. Manages staff to ensure that the agency missions, as well as regional and local needs are being met and that adopted regional policies are complied with. Leads staff efforts on major regional initiatives on behalf of BRPC and oversees agency budget and finances.
Thomas Matuszko, AICP - Assistant Director TMatuszko@berkshireplanning.org
Agency Administration, Regional Planning, Local Planning Environmental Planning, Economic & Community Development
Assists the Executive Director in administration and budgeting. Responsible for preparation of regional policy and other plans, coordination of comprehensive planning activities, particularly in areas of land use, environmental and natural resources and economic and community development planning, oversees regional service delivery programs such as Berkshire Conservation Agent program and Berkshire County Boards of Health Coalition. Develops grant applications and seeks other funding. Works with local and regional governments and organizations to determine their needs and coordinates BRPC responses to those needs.
Clete Kus, AICP - Transportation Program ManagerCKus@berkshireplanning.org
Transportation Planning
Ensures that federal and state requirements are met for transportation planning programs and serves as a liaison to these agencies. Provides leadership and guidance on technical aspects of transportation planning programs. Develops and administers the Transportation Division’s budget, provides oversight for various transportation planning projects and technical activities including traffic forecasts, corridor studies, alternatives evaluation, alternative transportation modes and environmental impact reviews.
Anuja Koirala, AICP - Senior Transportation Plannerakoirala@berkshireplanning.org
Transportation Planning, Regional Planning
Develops and coordinates transportation and other planning projects. Specifically responsible for managing major transportation planning studies in areas of regional concern, involving highway, transit, bicycle and pedestrian planning. Provides transportation analysis for local planning projects. Responsible for development of Regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and management of its database.
Henry (Doug) Plachcinski, AICP - Senior Transportation Planner - DPlachcinski@berkshireplanning.org
Transportation Planning, Environmental Planning
Coordinates various aspects of transportation planning. Lead staff assigned to the 2012 Regional Transportation Plan update. Participates in regional reviews under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act.
Mark Maloy - GIS, Data and IT ManagerMMaloy@berkshireplanning.org
GIS, Mapping & Data Services, Information Technology, Homeland Security Planning, Hazard Mitigation Planning
Manages GIS (Geographic Information System) services, data services and information technology for BRPC. Includes data analysis, conversion and mapping for environmental, natural resource, demographic, transportation, infrastructure, land use, economic and community development planning. Provides technical assistance to communities regarding GIS and mapping, including assistance to the Town of Adams through the Commission’s Out Source GIS Planner Program. Manages Berkshire Benchmarks, along with being the liaison to the U.S. Census Bureau. Provides support services for BRPC’s network, web page and computer hardware and software. Provides oversight the Western Regional Homeland Security Council initiatives and BRPC’s Hazard Mitigation program.
Lauren L. Gaherty - Senior PlannerLGaherty@berkshireplanning.org
Environment, Energy, Open Space & Recreation, Scenic Byways Program
Provides assistance on regional and local planning and implementation projects, focusing on the environment, energy, scenic byways, open space and recreation. Provides assistance to member communities in grant writing and project administration, including DEP water quality projects, green communities designation and byway projects implementation. Project-related activities include conducting field investigations, research, analysis, data searches, project management and report writing.
Melissa Provencher - Senior PlannerMProvencher@berkshireplanning.org
Environmental Planning, Energy Planning, Local & Regional Planning, Economic & Community Development and the Berkshire Brownfields Program
Provides comprehensive planning assistance focusing on water quality, stormwater management, energy efficiency, conservation and Brownfields. Works with public and private project partners on a variety of environmental and regional planning projects, including management of several s.319 Nonpoint Pollution Grants, 604B Water Quality Assessment Grants and the Regional NPDES Program. Coordinates Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant and Green Communities Technical Assistance projects. Coordinates the regional Brownfields Program, which includes multiple assessment projects and a Brownfields Clean-up Revolving Loan Fund. Currently managing a site specific clean-up project in the Town of Dalton. Responsible for writing grant proposals and reports, as well as grant management/administration.
Amy Kacala - Senior Planner
AKacala@berkshireplanning.org
Sustainability Planning, Land Use Planning, Agriculture & Food Security Planning, Energy Planning, Equity & Social Justice Planning, Economic & Community Development
Project Manager for the agency’s HUD Sustainable Communities Planning Grant. Manages three related initiatives being linked to the regional plan: the North Adams Comprehensive Plan, the Great Barrington Master Plan and the Keep Farming initiative. Founding member of the region’s first Food Policy Council in Northern Berkshire. Works on energy-related projects including Green Communities Act implementation, regional energy planning and climate change mitigation strategies. Also manages BRPC’s District Local Technical Assistance grant program and the Indicators portion of the Berkshire Benchmarks program. Works in partnership with social service entities in the region to support initiatives including Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative, Early Childhood Education Think Tank and BUW’s Community Impact work.
Patricia Mullins - Senior Planner
PMullins@berkshireplanning.org
Community Development Planning, Economic Development, Housing, Regional & Planning
Responsible for providing member municipalities with consensus building, planning and grant administrative services related to community development, including affordable housing initiatives, infrastructure projects, sustainability and other design related issues. Recently managed the Great Barrington CDBG Housatonic Village Infrastructure and Library ABR Design project, as well as the ARRA funded CDBG-R Lee Housing Authority project, and currently manages the Becket FY11CDBG Grant Infrastructure, Housing Rehab and Senior Housing Planning projects. Works with eight Berkshire County communities on various projects funded by Energy Efficiency Community Block Grants. Coordinates development of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for multiple communities. Assists with procurement related issues.
Mackenzie Greer - Planner
MGreer@berkshireplanning.org
Community Development & Regional Services
Supports Sustainable Berkshires, BRPC’s ongoing regional planning initiative and assists in regionalization efforts to improve local government service delivery through collaboration and consolidation of services. Offers technical assistance for villages and downtowns through physical planning, grant proposal development and zoning analysis.
Brian Domina, Esq. – Planner
BDomina@berkshireplanning.org
Land Use Planning, Economic & Community Development
Serves as the lead staff person for land use projects, land use training and land use technical assistance requests. Additional areas of work include economic development planning, wind energy, natural hazard mitigation planning, healthy communities and broadband planning.
Sara Lafayette – Planner
slafayette@berkshireplanning.org
Homeland Security Planning, Bike & Pedestrian Planning, Economic & Community Development, Local & Regional Planning, Sustainability Planning
Provides support for emergency preparedness initiatives for the Western Massachusetts Homeland Security Advisory Council. Primary contact for bike and pedestrian planning for the region. Works on the National Transit Database reporting for the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority. Provides assistance with project development, administration and implementation, as well as data analysis. Prepares the semi-monthly Common Ground newsletter.
Lindsay Errichetto– Planner
lerrichetto@berkshireplanning.org
Homeland Security Planning, Hazard Mitigation Planning
Provides support to the Western Regional Homeland Security Council initiatives and BRPC’s Hazard Mitigation program. Additionally assists in multiple projects pertaining to evacuation planning, regional emergency sheltering, as well as after action disaster reporting.
Marianne Sniezek - Office Manager MSniezek@berkshireplanning.org
Agency Administration
Office management and Human Resources functions for the agency. This includes providing support to the Commission and its committees, maintaining office services and efficiency, supervises the Bookkeeper, Office Assistant and the Accounts Receivable Assistant, manages office space and maintenance of office records. The Office Manger is responsible for the time management system. The Office Manager manages office and HR administrative functions including insurance, supplies, equipment, mailings, meeting logistics, database management, routine website updates, compliance to ethics reform law and open meeting law, maintenance of office records, and; works with Director and Assistant Director in development and monitoring of components of the agency budget; coordinates with the auditor and manages the annual audit ; prepares actual to budget quarterly financial statements, maintains personnel files; and orientation of new employees. The Office Manager develops updates and implements BRPC personnel, operating policies and procedures.
Carolyn G. LeBlanc – BookkeeperCLeblanc@berkshireplanning.org
Agency Administration
Processes payroll and employee withholding and insurance; enters monthly bills and prepares payments to vendors; enters customer invoices and manages accounts receivables; receives all payments and processes all bank transactions; reconciliation of accounts; month-end and year-end closings; and prepares financial statements. Works with outside accountant and provides data for audits.
Judy Wagner - Office Assistant
JWagner@berkshireplanning.org
Agency Administration
Assists in general office support including maintenance of mailing database, Commission & committee mailings, processing incoming and outgoing mail, purchase of supplies, preparation of Commissioners’ Handbook and Annual Report, and preparations for Commission meetings & special events. Maintain the data base in access including updating the Delegates and Alternates and all town Officers. Updating and maintain email distributions list. Maintains agency inventory records and ensures accurate receipt of supplies and inventory. Responsible for advertising for open positions and applications.
Ellen Downes - Accounts Receivable AssistantEDownes@berkshireplanning.org
Agency Administration
Works with BRPC Project Managers, Office Manager and the BRPC Bookkeeper, prepares invoices and requisitions for multiple Commission contracts, (according to the required schedule, i.e. monthly, quarterly), manages financial reporting requirements associated with specific contracts / projects, processes vendor or subcontractor invoices/payment requests for payment. Provides supporting documentation to audits on contracts. Responsible for ensuring the agency contract files are current and complete. Creates the aged accounts receivable, sets up contracts or agreements in accounting system, and is responsible for all dinner meeting collection of money.