BRPC Forms Search Committee to Replace Retiring DirectorBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:39AM / Monday, November 24, 2025 | |
 | | BRPC director Thomas Matuszko speaks at a housing panel last month. He plans to retire in Mardch. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission will be seeking a new executive director as Thomas Matuszko plans to retire in March.
On Thursday, an Executive Director Search Committee was established with a slate of experienced members.
Matuszko has worked with organization for nearly 30 years. He was appointed as executive director in 2018, having previously been a principal planner from 1997 to 2000 and then assistant director from 2001.
The search committee will conduct the initial hiring process and make recommendations to the Executive Committee, followed by the full commission. Members include: Buck Donovan, Malcolm Fick, Sheila Irvin, Kyle Hanlon, John Duval, Laura Kittross, and Marybeth Mitts.
The Executive Committee laid out a timeline that interviews applicants in January and February, and makes an appointment on March 19.
"A certain number of highly qualified applicants will be invited for initial interviews with the Search Committee in Executive Session," it reads.
"A smaller subset of those applicants will be provided with the opportunity for second interviews in public session. The Search Committee must recommend at least two, preferably three candidates to the Commission for a vote by the Commission."
The process is modeled after the search that hired Matuszko in 2017-2018.
"I feel strongly that the past presidents, chairs of the commission, have probably the most in-depth knowledge of any members of the commission, and would be in a good position to participate in this," Chair Malcom Fick explained during the virtual meeting.
"We can only have four members of the Executive Committee acting on this committee."
Rather than hire a firm to choose the next director, the Executive Committee recommended an in-house search through the seven-member panel. According to meeting minutes from Oct. 2, it was indicated that they should work on this as soon as possible.
In a separate vote, the commission also appointed Donovan as chair of the search committee.
BRPC's website explains that Matuszko is responsible for the overall operation of the agency under the direction of the Commission, including representing BRPC to local, state, and federal entities.
"Tom manages staff to ensure that the agency mission, as well as regional and local needs, are being met. Tom oversees agency budget and finances," it reads.
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