North Adams Establishments Hit With Day's Suspension

The License Board handed down two one-day suspensions to a package and a liquor store for failing a compliance check.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Two local alcohol stores were each handed one-day suspensions after failing a recent compliance check.

V&V Steeple City Spirits and Draper's Wine & Spirits were allowed to select which day they would close, both picking this Sunday, Aug. 24.

"It's the first failure for both and I'm sure the last," said Chairman Jeffrey Polucci on Tuesday. "But we did have 13 pass, which is the direction we want to go."

The compliance check on 15 establishments was done through a Northern Berkshire Community Coalition program. In the two violations, an underage individual purchased Mike's Hard Lemonade, a rasberry and a black cherry.

V&V manager Louis Matney Jr. said he had hired a couple new employees. The worker responsible for the error had not completed TIP (Training for Intervention Procedure) training but would be required to do so now.

Attorney F. Sydney Smithers IV, representing V&V, said, "Mr. Matney has taken steps to make sure it doesn't happen again."

Matney said the register requires a license or identification card scan but it's possible to override the scan; that will be changed to require management approval for an override or the sale will void. Still, some IDs have to be manually inspected, he said.

"I'm glad you've got something technologically that will help with this," said Polucci, but cautioned Matney to realize his business could be in jeopardy. "We checked you once, you failed once."

Mark Draper, of Draper's, also said he had new help that contributed to compliance failure.

Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:15PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.

 

More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing  Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.

 

Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.

 

One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly. 

 

"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."

 

Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.

 

Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.