North Adams Resident Petititoning for Government Review

Richard Dassatti is garnering signatures to petition for charter review.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Resident Richard Dassatti is asking the city to reflect on its choice of government.

Dassatti, who has been involved in a number of civic advocacy groups, is soliciting the more than 1,000 signatures of registered voters needed for a city charter review commission. It's not about who's in office, he said, but about the structure of the government.

"I think this form of government doesn't fit the kind of community we have," he told the City Council on Tuesday night. "I think the strong mayor form of government in this community is like cutting butter with a chainsaw."

Dassatti had been given time on the agenda to address the council about his petition by Councilor Kate Hanley Merrigan, whose General Government Committee will look more into the details of a charter commission.

A nine-member commission can be elected by the petition of 15 percent of a municipality's registered voters and has no more than 18 months to come up with a final report. An election would be held for voters to decide any changes.

Pittsfield recently went through a charter review, making several modifications including extending its mayoral term to four years, but maintained its current form of government of mayor and councilors representing wards and at-large.

North Adams voters selected the Plan A type of government of a strong mayor and nine councilors elected at large in 1965. That change was prompted by a petition drive headed by Judge Ernest Rosasco. Prior to that, the city was organized under Plan B, with a mayor and 15 at-large and ward councilors.

Other forms include variations on the roles of mayor, councilors and city manager.

Dassatti said he wanted residents to understand that they could change their government — or decide not to change it all.
 
"It's something we don't have to live with if it's not working for you," he said. "I'm not make it a personal thing ... but if you're not satisfied, here's a way and an opportunity to go about it."

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.