City Council, Barrett Take Oaths of Office
 |
| Mayor John Barrett III |
The state's dean of mayors kicked off his 13th term in office by recalling the city's successes over the past two decades.
"It's hard to believe that 24 years have elapsed since I assumed the office of mayor," said Barrett from the former judge's bench in the City Council chambers after being sworn in by City Clerk Marilyn Gomeau. "For some, I'm sure it's felt like an eternity."
Within six months of taking office with high hopes in 1984, the city was hit by closing mills, a school system "ravaged" by Proposition 2 1/2, broken-down equipment and a spiraling unemployment rate.
"I quickly discovered that the job of mayor was not quite what it was cracked up to be," he said.
Since then, the "boondoggle" that was Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art has helped spur a renaissance of economic diversity and investment. The creative economy has become synonymous with North Adams, and even communities like Pittsfield are following its lead.
The challenges, however, are not over, as the mayor made clear.
A financial crisis is looming for towns and cities across the state, one that is being exacerbated by the local charter school's siphoning off nearly a million in funding from city schools over two years.
The solutions to those challenges can be found on Beacon Hill, but blight can be fought at home.
Barrett is creating a blue ribbon commission headed by City Councilor Richard Alcombright and Health Board member Gary Ghidotti to investigate ways to address dilapidated and vacant buildings around the city.
"They will have an impact on this city that will be felt for many years to come," said the mayor. With investment pouring into the city, its deteriorating housing stock is becoming an embarrassment as well as an attraction to drug dealers.
<L2>"Never mind the tourists. What about the people who live here, and invest here, and drive by it every day on their way downtown," he continued. "I have to tell you about what they see - old bathtubs, toilets and debris strewn all over the place."
The city has tried numerous avenues to force slumlords to clean up their act, including fines and taking them to court. That's been frustrating for the city's inspectors because "they spend half their time in court but the court does nothing."
The commission has been charged with finding a comprehensive plan to deal with blighted properties, including looking at what other communities do to landlords who knowingly allow drug dealing on their properties.
"We're going to try a new tactic," said Barrett. "Poor housing stock is what attracts drug dealers to a community and North Adams is no different."
The mayor urged citizens to join the effort by demanding absentee landlords - "you know who they are" - to clean up their properties and asked local media to showcase blighted housing. "There needs to be a no-tolerance policy in this city."
Barrett also pledged to see the Mohawk Theater renovation move forward, but not until it can be paid for - he insists there'll be no leftover bills for the 900-seat art deco theater.
"We never intended the Mohawk to be another Colonial theater but a community theater that will host special events, from weddings to concerts to film festivals to live theater. ... We will make sure we do it right."
The theater project has garnered a number of donations, including a recent $50,000 from a former resident, and the funding is nearly in hand, said the mayor.<R3>
He lauded the progress in the school system - which has seen 90 percent of its graduates move onto higher education in recent years - and applauded the professionalism and dedication of city employees. Maintaining a high level of services despite cutbacks in funding and staff has been a hallmark of his tenure, he said.
He thanked the citizens not only for electing him (13 times) but for their patience and "unwavering support" over the years - particularly when it came to turning the 780,000-square-foot Sprague complex into the nation's largest contemporary art museum.
"Perhaps no other decision in the history of this city has had a greater impact," said Barrett. "Who would have thought there would be condominiums selling for $250,000 over Moulton's General Store ... of course, I never thought there would be upside-down trees growing outside Mass MoCA or that we would pay nearly $300 a night to stay at a hotel on River Street.
"When I started this extraordinary journey 24 years ago, I had a vision of North Adams that, together, we can be the best little city in New England."
<L4>The City Council also was sworn in, including its newest member, Lisa Blackmer, who beat out incumbent Christopher Tremblay for a seat on the nine-member panel.
Veteran City Councilor Alan Marden was unanimously elected president, as expected. His first decision was to eliminate the liaisons for the now defunct Northern Berkshire Industrial Park and Northern Berkshire Development Corp. They were replaced by liaisons to the Housing Authority and Retirement Board.
Richard Alcombright was elected vice president of the council. Also sworn in were members of the North Adams and McCann school committees, all of whom were elected unopposed.
