North Adams Mayor, Council, Committees Sworn In
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city's leaders were sworn in on Friday morning during the biennial Organization of Government, bringing a mix of new faces and some veterans to its City Council and committees.
Mayor Richard Alcombright, addressing the sparse gathering in the City Council Chambers after taking the oath for his fourth two-year term, said he was eager to work with a new council "packed with municipal experience and professional experiences in so many sectors" but encouraged more younger people to become involved in city government.
Someone had pointed out to him during the last election that the city had been led by two people for 34 years, he said.
"While that is not necessarily a bad thing, after taking some time to think it through, it screamed that we may have skipped a genera?tion of leaders here in the city of North Adams," the mayor said. "I both invite and challenge our younger folks to get involved in leadership roles — elected and appointed — bottom line, this is your city."
There had been little movement both in the mayor's office and City Council for a number of years. That changed dramatically in 2013 with the election of five new councilors and a significant drop in their average age. This past election returned two veterans — Robert M. Moulton Jr. and Ronald A. Boucher — but on Friday one of the freshman, Benjamin Lamb, took the leadership role.
Lamb, starting his second term, was elected council president for 2016 with a unanimous vote after being nominated by Boucher.
"As a I look around the room I see a superb collection of leaders, dreamers, thinkers, doers and spirited community advocates who are dedicated to making North Adams and the greater Northern Berkshire region a place where we can be proud to live, work, play," he said. "I look forward to engaging in critical decision making, truthful discourse, municipally meaningful action ... we have all been put in these seats for a reason: to represent the residents and work for the greater good."
Councilor Nancy Bullett was elected vice president again, on the nomination of Councilor Keith Bona. (Councilor Eric Buddington was out of the area and unable to attend.)
In his address, the mayor said, "this is a wonderful time to be an elected official in the city of North Adams." He pointed to some $120 million in completed, in progress or proposed public and private investment in the city, including the now completed Colegrove Park Elementary School, the burgeoning Route 2 "Cultural Corridor" with the redevelopment of the Redwood Motel and the Greylock Mill and proposals for two new museums (art and railroading), as well as the expansion at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, the Mulcare Block, the skate park and the UNO Community Center.
"Over the next six months, we will continue working with private investors and government partners to finalize and put into play much of what is happening," Alcombright said, assuring residents "I have not lost sight of the Mohawk Theater and this project will once again be brought to the front burner."
While crime and addiction remain an issue, there have been drug arrests and crime numbers are going down, he said, and the city is continuing to identify infrastructure needs, ensure a sustainable financial position and push for restoration of medical services.
Alcombright said he would offer further details on some of these issues during his state of the city address later this month.
"I am so encouraged with what is happening in the city. If we look at time as measured in government years, we are just minutes away from turning the corner on our road to becoming 'that place to be' in this region," he said.
Also taking oaths were new School Committee members Tara Jacobs and Nicholas Fahey (a third, Karen Bond, was not in attendance), and McCann School Committee members William Diamond, George Canales and newcomer Rachel Branch.
Councilors Moulton and Lisa Blackmer drew the names and numbers for the seating of councilors this year; Councilors Boucher and Kate Hanley Merrigan escorted the mayor into the chamber.
The Rev. Mary Frances Curns, priest in charge at All Saints Episcopal Church, gave the invocation; the Rev. Matthew J. Alcombright, parochial vicar at Mary, Mother of Hope Parish in Springfield, and the mayor's son, gave the benediction.
City Clerk Marilyn Gomeau, who gave the oaths to the elected officials, reminded them caring for each other and their community outweighs whatever differences between them.
"Let us remember that there is an immense gap between saying 'I am right' to saying 'I believe I am right,'" she said. "And that our neighbors with whom we disagree are people with hopes and dreams as true and high as yours."
Correction: a transcription error made in a quote by Council President Benjamin Lamb had been fixed from the original version of this article.
Tags: inauguration, North Adams City Council, swearing in,
