Select Board Picks Mason as Next Town Administrator
Select Board · Meeting of October 6, 2026
Lanesborough Select Board votes 4-1 to hire John Mason as town administrator over finalist Allison. Board members Debra Maynard, Julie Baker, Michael Murphy, Jeffrey Walter and a fifth member split largely along experience lines, with Murphy saying his "concerns for this town are to keep it moving forward" and Baker countering she was "leaning towards Allison because of that difference of energy." Mason, a 17-year Easthampton parks and recreation director, cited $425,000 and $400,000 state grants toward local park projects and said Lanesborough's regional school assessment eats up 57 percent of the budget. The board also unanimously approved a letter to state Sen.
Paul Mark and Rep. John Barrett III seeking infrastructure support for the former Berkshire Mall, and set early voting hours for the Nov. 3 election. Mason's hire is conditional on a background check, with contract talks set for a future executive session.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,479 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of October 6, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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