City Council Candidate: Nancy Parisien Bullett

I am a North Adams native, daughter to the late Lorne and Mary Parisien. I have two children and three grandsons and they all reside in North Adams. My interest in health care began in 1973 working as a pharmacy technician at North Adams Regional Hospital and from there went on to achieve a BS in physical therapy from Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y. Following 10 years of operating my own physical therapy office, I decided to close the office and now work for Chiro-Med and Rehab in Bennington, Vt. I have been a member of the City Council for two terms.


Why are you running for City Council?

I am running for a third term for City Council as I have found the past two terms such a learning experience with the first term asking myself what did I get myself into and the second term beginning to understand my role as a city councilor. I am hopeful my third term will see many exciting projects completed and more projects initiated for our city. I envision a younger, more vibrant city as more young people step up to the plate to help rebuild our city and I think of myself as a mentor, a team player and a thoughtful contributor to the process.

If elected, what issue in particular would you push the council to address?

I would like to see the bike path have an updated plan and possibly that it has moved forward enough to see physical work begin on the project. I am also interested in the Hoosic River Revival. Windsor Lake has made great strides in rebuilding our hidden gem and I would like to see more activities and events being held at the lake and, of course, the completion of the volleyball sand court. There are so many positive issues it is difficult to identify just one. With these interests I would say I would like to work more closely with community development,

What experience or perspective would you bring to the council?

As a physical therapist I have an interest in health. My interests may be a driving force to encourage people to take charge of their health and engage in activities that utilize our natural resources. I would like to see our children develop healthier life styles to prevent chronic illness. I believe we can build stronger connections with our health system partners as well MCLA to build a healthier community.

North Adams has a "strong mayor" form of government. How do you see the council's role in governing?

The council's role is to be the checks and balances. We are a council of nine and have the responsibility to investigate, debate the issues and to provide information for important decisions. Committee work is valuable to offer suggestions and solutions to problems as well as evaluate and develop appropriate ordinances for the city.

The current commercial tax at $36.07 per thousand is more than double the residential rate. Should the city rethink the current tax rate shift? Why or why not?

I am not convinced the time is right to offer a shift. As we continue to develop new business opportunities and offer tax incentives for start up companies, the hope is for more economic growth. Build the foundation, with more people working and then consider a shift.

There have been claims that blight — abandoned or unkempt properties — is increasing. Do you agree? How do you think the council can be more proactive in addressing this issue?

I am not sure what the council role is with these properties. We certainly can have eyes on them and ask questions. And the question may be what can be done to prevent it. We are dealing with properties left unattended for years. I would ask what solutions might there be to avoid this in the first place. Determine what are the issues that cause the abandoned properties and possibly find solutions to the problem before the situation is out of hand.

The proposed bike path, skate park and Hoosic River Revival have been touted as community development projects. Do you agree? Why or why not?

I do agree with any and all projects that have the potential to afford our community the opportunity to be active. As I mentioned earlier we have many opportunities to engage our families in activities which, can in turn, promote a healthier life style.

Should the city continue to try to resurrect the Mohawk Theater or is it time to turn the project over to a private or nonprofit venture?

I am in favor of any vehicle to get the Mohawk renovated and functioning.

Plans for the private redevelopment of Western Gateway Heritage State Park have recently fallen through. Would you support another attempt at privatization?

Yes, I believe any effort made should be evaluated and if determined to be appropriate by all means move forward.

How have you personally supported the community?

I believe the police department is doing a great job of increasing their interaction with our youth in a positive way. I see this as an opportunity to develop a stronger relationship with our youth and hopefully influence their choices as the grow. As to hiring more officers, I would want to have a conversation with the Police Director to learn more about our needs.

The public safety building is known to have a number of deficiencies, including violations of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Can the city afford to push for a new facility or should it try to "Band-Aid" the current structure?

I think the city has tried to "Band- Aid" the public safety building long enough. I think the Administration must continue to look for viable solutions.

Heroin and opiate addiction have been related to increasing crime. Should North Adams focus on more policing, on getting addicts help or a combination of the two?

The heroin and opiate addiction is a national crisis. Our law enforcement is doing a great job working with the state law enforcement and the drug task force. We can arrest them, however, the court system has to work better at how to manage them. If people are incarcerated for a drug related crime, are they being offered any assistance to deal with the addiction? Is there an opportunity to explore better treatment facilities county and state wide. This question raises more questions than answers because it is an epidemic and it kills on so many levels.

Do you think city government is transparent enough in its processes? Could it be better? Would you support an Open Checkbook system?

The open checkbook system as a great idea, however, to costly for it to be implemented. I do believe we provide any and all information pertinent to our job as City Councilors. I also think it is appropriate to ask if we can do better.

A thriving community requires a diverse population, yet the city and Berkshires overall are seeing a decline in its younger population. What initiatives might the council be able to support to attract young people?

I have seen an up tick in younger people engaging in our community. The improvements in our education will always be a catalyst to ensure more growth. Opportunities for employment is all part of economic development and our city needs to continue to promote ourselves with the diverse resources we have to offer. Working with people who express an interest in developing a business is key to progress.

Adams and Williamstown recently developed economic development committees. Should North Adams do so as well?

I am in favor of collaborative economic development . North Berkshire should work together to engage community in the process to develop a stronger economic base and yes I think we need to be on board.

What question have you not been asked that should have been?

"Do you see any plans for Sullivan School once it closes?"

If the building can be salvaged could it be used for a community center, resource center and gathering place for activities. I always wanted to learn a craft such as knitting and crocheting as an example. Could there be classes?

If the building is beyond saving, take it down, increasing the green space to coincide with the new playground. Whatever the decision, it should not be left vacant and unattended.

North Adams Hopes to Transform Y Into Community Recreation Center

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:19AM / Thursday, May 02, 2024

Mayor Jennifer Macksey updates members of the former YMCA on the status of the roof project and plans for reopening. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city has plans to keep the former YMCA as a community center.

 

"The city of North Adams is very committed to having a recreation center not only for our youth but our young at heart," Mayor Jennifer Macksey said to the applause of some 50 or more YMCA members on Wednesday. "So we are really working hard and making sure we can have all those touch points."

 

The fate of the facility attached to Brayton School has been in limbo since the closure of the pool last year because of structural issues and the departure of the Berkshire Family YMCA in March.

 

The mayor said the city will run some programming over the summer until an operator can be found to take over the facility. It will also need a new name. 

 

"The YMCA, as you know, has departed from our facilities and will not return to our facility in the form that we had," she said to the crowd in Council Chambers. "And that's been mostly a decision on their part. The city of North Adams wanted to really keep our relationship with the Y, certainly, but they wanted to be a Y without borders, and we're going a different direction."

 

The pool was closed in March 2023 after the roof failed a structural inspection. Kyle Lamb, owner of Geary Builders, the contractor on the roof project, said the condition of the laminated beams was far worse than expected. 

 

"When we first went into the Y to do an inspection, we certainly found a lot more than we anticipated. The beams were actually rotted themselves on the bottom where they have to sit on the walls structurally," he said. "The beams actually, from the weight of snow and other things, actually crushed themselves eight to 11 inches. They were actually falling apart. ...