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Several airport users are saying one commissioner's volunteer involvement with an airplane business is a conflict when it comes to a building the city's buying.

North Adams Airport Commission to Discuss Alleged Conflict of Interest

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Airport Commission will sit down with city representatives and airport users to discuss an alleged conflict of interest on the commission.
 
Attorney Leonard Cohen, of Cohen Kinne Valicenti & Cook of Pittsfield, attended the commission's Tuesday meeting representing airport users Michael Milazzo, Brian Doyle and Bruce Goff and requested the meeting. 
 
"I am not here for the purpose of fighting World War III and ... I would rather handle this situation working with you than against you," Cohen said. "I am here to meet with you and to come with an open mind and hear what it is you have to say."
 
The allegation arose a few months ago during discussions about the city's purchase of the building known as the Shamrock Hangar. Milazzo said he was concerned over Commissioner Trever Gilman voting on the purchase because he is affiliated with Teamflys — a company that rents space in the hangar.
 
Gilman said he has no financial holding in the company and he would also recuse himself from any vote to lease out space in the hangar.
 
At a later meeting, he rescinded his vote to recommend to the city purchase the hangar to appease the concerned users.
 
Cohen said he felt a conflict may exist just because Gilman felt the need to recuse himself and he reached out to City Solicitor John DeRosa.
 
"We had a telephone conversation about this calling to his attention the fact that perhaps it would be in the best interest of everyone if we were to sit down and talk about this," Cohen said.  
 
He said he had no further contact with DeRosa and the commission has received no communications from solicitor, including the original letter Cohen sent to DeRosa on July 12 that outlined his clients' concerns.
 
Chairman Jeffrey Naughton said he had no problem having a meeting and asked Cohen to reach out to him when he has a date in mind.
 
"We would be more than happy to sit down with you and your clients and address this," he said. 
 
Because the airport's engineer was unable to attend the commission meeting and provide a project update, the meeting was opened for public comment.
 
A Chenaille Terrace resident asked the commissioners if they had any safety concerns about the proposed bike trail running near the airport. 
 
Gilman said they were approached several years ago with the plans for the Mohawk Bike Trail and that they had asked the planners to account for Federal Aviation Administration clearances, airport property and areas for future development.
 
Naughton said that was the last they heard from them.
 
"I haven't heard anything about it since then so I don't really know how to respond to you," he said. "I am not sure what the status of the project is and where it involves the airport property." 
 
He added that bike trail safety is not under the commission's purview.

 


Tags: airport commission,   conflict of interest,   

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Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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