Tax Incentives for Lowe's on Agenda in N. Adams

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS — The City Council will be asked tonight to declare the former North Adams Plaza as an economic opportunity area to foster its development.

Lowe's Home Centers Inc. plans to construct a 132,000 square-foot home improvement retail store on the site, owned by developer Starwood Ceruzzi. The Lowe's is expected to anchor development at the plaza and the neighboring Curran Highway parcel; a bank branch and restaurant are just two of the potential tenants.

In a communique to the council, Mayor John Barrett III said the city has been working out a tax increment financing agreement with Lowe's Home Centers Inc. and Starwood Ceruzzi.

Designating the site as a economic opportunity area would allow the developers to take advantage of certain local and state tax credits and deductions.

Barrett, in his letter to the council, wrote, "I am confident that this $15 million project will stimulate further private sector investment on the adjacent property. This Lowe's store will have a most positive impact on the city's economy as well as the Northern Berkshire area as a whole."

The development is expected to create 90 full-time and 50 part-time jobs when it opens in 2009.

The TIF agreement the mayor is proposing would gradually increase the tax assessment on the development over a 15-year schedule; the plan would also allow Lowe's to access a 5 percent investment tax credit through the state.

The council will take up both the designation and the tax financing plan.

Veterans Benefits

Also coming before the council is a reworked plan to provide a retroactive benefit to military veterans injured while working for the city.

The Legislature passed an act a few years ago that would allow municipalities to even up a perceived inequity in retirement benefits. It provides veterans injured in a city's or town's employ with the same yearly benefit (not to exceed $300) that retired veterans receive in their pensions; it also had a section for retroactive relief to the time they were disabled.

The city adopted the first provision but balked on the second because of the cost of funding retroactive benefits for the dozen or so veterans. The controversial proposal resurfaced again as the last act of former City Councilor Christopher Tremblay.

The council was ready to adopt the provision until Barrett threatened to veto it, saying the city could ill afford to spend $57,000 on retirees when it was in the middle of negotiations with its current employees.

A compromise solution would pay the retroactive benefit but only up to 50 percent of what it would have been on June 1, 2006. The order would be dependent upon the agreement of the North Adams Retirement Board.

The council will also take up:
  • The partitioning and sale of the Notre Dame property to Arch Street Development and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
  • Reappointments to the Hoosac Water Quality District.
  • Increases in the costs of transfer station permits to offset rising fuel costs.
  • A request for an awning at the planned Hub restaurant on Main Street.
  • An increase in sewer use fees to 100 percent for those who don't pay property tax.
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NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners officially accepted the resignation of Executive Director Jennifer Hohn and restored access to the Tenants Association office.

The board held a special meeting Thursday to vote to accept Hohn's resignation and determined that there are currently no plans to replace her.

"We didn't make any final determinations in terms of the executive session so we will schedule another meeting at another time," Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah said after returning from more than an hour session. "Day-to-day operations will continue to be managed as normal by staff."

Per their bylaws, board member Marie Harpin will continue to handle finances, and Uqdah will manage contracts.

Hohn stepped down on Oct. 8 after 24 years leading the agency. Her resignation followed rising tension between her and the NAHA Tenants Association, culminating in the scheduling of a formal grievance hearing between both parties.

The boiling point was the locking of the association's office this summer. Tenants alleged the lockout was retaliation for posting a video on social media depicting improperly functioning door alarms. Hohn claimed the office was locked for tenant safety and to stop the spread of misinformation.

Tenants Association President Corey Fortin asked if Hohn's security access had been removed. Uqdah confirmed her credentials were revoked the day she resigned, meaning she can no longer monitor security cameras remotely.

Jennifer Barbeau, a former city councilor who was liaison to the Housing Authority, asked when the board met to discuss Hohn's severance package. Uqdah stated that Hohn did not have one.

The board also accepted the resignation of Commissioner Richard Lavigne, though they will vote officially on the matter at their next meeting.

The open portion of the meeting was brief, with nearly an hour and a half spent in executive session. Before entering executive session, the board opened the floor to tenants.

"The tenants requested an opportunity to talk to the board," said Uqdah. "It has been quite a while, but we have decided to honor that."

Fortin, who posted the original video to social media, was the first to speak. He was clear in his request: unlock the office door.

"Let's cut straight to the chase tonight. The former resigned Director Jennifer Hohn ordered the office locked," he alleged. "She is gone. The lockout is a direct violation, and the board has a duty to end that tonight."

He cited federal and state laws that mandate the tenants association be provided with office space, including computer and network access.

"We are here with a direct administrative demand. We demand that the board vote tonight to unlock the doors," he said. "Do not let a resigned director's illegal action remain the board's ongoing liability. Open our door tonight, and let us get back to work."

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