Cathy Moulton behind the counter at Moulton's General Store.
NORTH ADAMS - Area residents now have two places downtown to pay their utility bills.
Moulton's General Store on Main Street is accepting payments for telephone bills and, in the next few days, expects to begin taking electric bill payments as well.
"It's about being a good community member," said owner Cathy Moulton. "We're doing this out of the kindness of our heart to help the community."
Nassif's Professional Pharmacy had accepted utility bills for years until dropping the service after Verizon began charging customers $1 to pay their bills there. The phone company had been absorbing that charge by the bill payment service. Customer complaints and a drop in the number of people using the service led the pharmacy to stop taking payments July 1.
Moulton said Western Union had approached her and her husband, Mark Moulton, about setting up an electronic payment service at the general store. After talking it over, they decided it was good for customers and good for the downtown.
"This is another reason for people to come to Main Street," Cathy Moulton said.
In addition, TD Banknorth is continuing to accept Berkshire Gas bills.
City Councilor Marie Harpin thought it was great news. "Now there are two places people can go right on Main Street to pay their utility bills," said Harpin, who also is head of Northern Berkshire Community Action. She wanted to make sure people knew the service was available again.
Western Union installed the payment machine three months ago but it only recently came online. Verizon, MCI and AT&T payments are being accepted now; technical issues have delayed adding National Grid but it should be online shortly.
There is a dollar fee still being charged by the phone companies to make an electronic payment. Once up and running, National Grid payments will be free.
Moulton said the dollar fee must be in cash and is nonrefundable - if a customer cancels the payment, he or she won't get their dollar back.
The dollar fee upset customers when it was instituted earlier this year but other options - paying by phone or writing a check and mailing - can also be costly. Moulton believes the convenience will be worth the price for many.
Cash or check can be used to pay the utility bill. Checks will be run through a scanning machine and voided on site; the account information will be electronically sent to the utility. Customers will get their voided checks back right at the counter. Moulton said the payments should post the next day.
The store is accepting payments Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 2 for now. Moulton is the only one trained to process the payments and she wants to make sure it operates smoothly before training her employees. She hopes to be able to accept payments weekdays and Saturdays soon.
People could once pay their utility bills at a range of venues - from banks to supermarkets. Harpin recalled how utilities used to have their offices on Main Street or close by. Now, many people are turning to the Internet, paying bills through online banking or directly to companies.
But not everybody - some people don't have access to computers or trust their finances on them. Others may be trying to avoid the delay of mailing a payment. Moulton hopes some of those people will benefit from the service, especially once National Grid is added.
That won't be soon enough for one disappointed customer, who was turned away Thursday morning. She was hoping to pay her electric bill before heading out of town. "But where else can I pay it?" she asked plaintively.
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I thought this was going to be a nice, cute general store..but recently, the scratch tickets, the cigarettes...its all seeming a bit tacky and just wrong if you ask me!
Isn't that what a General Store is supposed to be? In the old days the General Store was the place to do all of your business. At least SOMEONE is willing to step up to the plate and fill a need in the community. It's even in the center of town so everyone is able to get there.
A general store is just that "GENERAL". The Moulton's have a great store with alot more than scratch tickets and cigarettes. People who aren't into the lottery or smoking seem quite pleased with all the other GENERAL items the store has to offer. Not to mention the great food, fudge, chocolates and gift line!!!
Its good to see that someone in the downtown will take on more work to benefit the people of the area. The girls behind the counter at Moulton's seem to have enough to do now but are adding more to their workload. The girls have a ready smile for all of the customers even when there's a line of us. I hope this new service runs smoothly as I have been there when people complain to them about not being able to pay yet. This is not in their control but they keep explaining it with a smile. These girls work hard. I wish them luck with everything they are trying to do. We all need to support the downtown merchants to have a downtown. The mall might be convenient but if we want a Main St. these mom and pop stores need our business.
Healey Makes Berkshire Campaign Swing: 'I Stand With You'
By Tammy Daniels & Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey says she endorses Healey and Kim Driscoll '150 percent' as they pursue a second term as governor and lieutenant governor, respectively.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Maura Healey was in the Berkshires on Monday to rally support for a second four-year term as governor. She spoke at a meet and greet on Main Street, visited small businesses on North Street in Pittsfield, and planned to stop in Great Barrington on Tuesday.
Speaking with dozens of supporters at the new Main & Mill restaurant, the Democrat ticked off successes over her term and challenges ahead in education, energy, healthcare and housing.
"I go around the state and I talk to colleagues around the country. People are hurting. You know, they can't afford gas, groceries, rent. Everything it seems has gotten more expensive," she said. "We got a president who continues to cut and make things more expensive and more difficult for all of us.
"I mean, except for the very rich and the very powerful, it didn't work out really well for a lot of people across this country right now, which is why state leadership I think, is all the more important."
Mayor Jennifer Macksey, who hosted the meet and greet, said Healey "gets what it is to grow a community, and she has supported me for the last 4 1/2 years."
"No matter where you sit or who you represent, you are important to Governor Healey, and I know that firsthand because we talk often about the work that we do, the work we do in the weeds, the work we do at higher end, but Governor Healey gets it," she said, adding at a walkthrough of the Greylock School project later that she supports Healey and her running mate Kim Driscoll "150 percent."
Healey touted her role in being the "first governor in 20 years" to cut taxes, pointing to increases in tax credits for seniors and families, and signing the $5 billion housing act that allows accesory dwelling units by right and offered incentives for converting office space.
Maura Healey was in the Berkshires on Monday to rally support for a second four-year term as governor. She spoke at a meet and greet on Main Street, visited small businesses on North Street in Pittsfield, and planned to stop in Great Barrington on Tuesday. click for more
The new Greylock School hit another milestone on Friday with a traditional "topping out" to celebrate the near completion of its steel skeleton. click for more
The City Council on Tuesday approved four temporary easements to accommodate the $2 million reconstruction of a collapsed section of Walnut Street over the next year. click for more