Letter: Macksey for Mayor

To the Editor:

I moved to North Adams more than a year ago, I lived in Tennessee for a short while after leaving Pittsfield due to an attack on my son.

Within this time of our return, a lot of things in North Adams changed.

One thing seems to be the heart of our fine community. There's some art making its way back to our area and that is wonderful. One change I see fits voting for Jennifer Macksey for mayor. When my family first met her at the Downtown Celebration she was so inviting warm and caring.

My son, who has PTSD issue a from the above mentioned in Pittsfield, went right over and gave her a big hug. He took right to her. Jennifer cares for her community, her voters, for everyone. She is kind and wonderful listener, she will absolutely be a great leader. She is a positive role model for all of us. She is exactly what our city needs for a better tomorrow.

All of my children adore her; my wife and I are amazed how one person can reach so many people. I know in my heart Jennifer Macksey is our next mayor, our leader, our future. I trust in her and her campaign. I urge you on Nov. 2 to vote. for Jennifer Macksey.

Tony Paulyk
North Adams, Mass.

Clarksburg OKs $5.1M Budget; Moves CPA Adoption Forward

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
08:44PM / Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Newly elected Moderator Seth Alexander kept the meeting moving. 

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The annual town meeting sped through most of the warrant on Wednesday night, swiftly passing a total budget of $5.1 million for fiscal 2025 with no comments. 

 

Close to 70 voters at Clarksburg School also moved adoption of the state's Community Preservation Act to the November ballot after a lot of questions in trying to understand the scope of the act. 

 

The town operating budget is $1,767,759, down $113,995 largely because of debt falling off. Major increases include insurance, utilities and supplies; the addition of a full-time laborer in the Department of Public Works and an additional eight hours a week for the accountant.

 

The school budget is at $2,967,609, up $129,192 or 4 percent over this year. Clarksburg's assessment to the Northern Berkshire Vocational School District is $363,220.

 

Approved was delaying the swearing in of new officers until after town meeting; extending the one-year terms of moderator and tree warden to three years beginning with the 2025 election; switching the licensing of dogs beginning in January and enacting a bylaw ordering dog owners to pick up after their pets. This last was amended to include the words "and wheelchair-bound" after the exemption for owners who are blind. 

 

The town more recently established an Agricultural Committee and on Wednesday approved a right-to-farm bylaw to protect agriculture. 

 

Larry Beach of River Road asked why anyone would be against and what the downside would be. Select Board Chair Robert Norcross said neighbors of farmers can complain about smells and livestock like chickens.