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Election 2019 Debates & Candidate Forums

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North Adams City Council Forums

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 6:30 p.m. / HiLo club, 55 Union St.
 
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students in professor Samantha Pettey's "State and Local Politics" are hosting two candidate forums for City Council candidates in conjunction with the North Adams Chamber of Commerce.
 
The two events were split between the 14 council candidates running for nine seats and the seven candidates running for school committees — five candidates for three seats on the North Adams School Committee and four candidates for three seats on the McCann School Committee.  
 
At each event, candidates will meet informally with members of the community from 6:30 to 7 p.m. and a public forum will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Parking is available in designated lots on Canal Street, on Willow Dell and on Union Street.
 
Sunday, Oct. 27, noon / Northern Berkshire Community Television, 64 Union St. 
 
iBerkshires is hosting a candidate forum in the TV studios from noon to 3 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend.
 
Candidates will be able to meet with the public for about an hour and will have an opportunity to give an introduction or statement beginning about 1 p.m. Afterward, written questions will be taken from the audience that one or more candidates may answer.
 

Pittsfield Mayoral Debates

Monday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. / BCC's Robert Boland Theatre.
 
Berkshire Community College, in partnership with the Pittsfield Gazette and Pittsfield Community Television, will host a debate between Linda Tyer and Melissa Mazzeo, moderated by Tammy Daniels of iBerkshires.com.
 

Pittsfield School Committee & Council Forums

Monday, Oct. 21 / BCC's Connector building
 
6 p.m.: Pittsfield School Committee forum with Mark Brazeau, William Cameron, Dan Elias, Alison McGee, Tom Perrea, Dennis Powell, and Katherine Yon. The seven candidates are running for six School Committee seats.
 
7:30 p.m.: At-Large City Council with Alexander Blumin, Yuki Cohen, Richard Latura, Jay Hamling, Peter Marchetti, Earl Persip, Peter White, and Auron Stark. The eight candidates are running for the four councilor at-large seats.
 
The debates are hosted by Berkshire Community College, in partnership with the Pittsfield Gazette and Pittsfield Community Television. Both debates will be moderated by Larry Kratka.
 
Tuesday, Oct. 29 / BCC's Koussevitzky Room 111
  • 6 p.m. Ward 1 between Helen Moon and Kenneth Warren Jr.
  • 6:30 p.m. Ward 4 between Chris Connell and Michael Merriam
  • 7 p.m. Ward 5 between Patrick Kavey and Jonathan Lothrop
  • 7:30 p.m. Ward 6 between Dina Guiel Lampiasi and Joe Nichols
  • 8 p.m. Ward 7 between Anthony Maffucio and J. David Pope
The debates are hosted by Berkshire Community College, in partnership with the Pittsfield Gazette and Pittsfield Community Television. Both debates will be moderated by Jim Arpante.
 

Williamstown Fire District Forum

Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. / Williamstown Town Hall
 
The League of Women Voters of Williamstown is sponsoring a forum for the candidates running for two newly created seats on the Prudential Committee, which oversees the fire district. The forum will be recorded for broadcast by WilliNet. Candidates will make opening and closing statements, and members of the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions; League member Krista Birch will moderate.
 
Candidates for the 18-month term (serving until May 2021) are David R. Moresi and Gerard J. Smith.
Candidates for the 30-month term (serving until May 2022) are Richard Reynolds and Bruce Macdonald.
 

Concluded Debates

Pittsfield Mayoral Debate held Tuesday, Oct. 15, 6:30 p.m.

 
 
North Adams Council & School Committee held Tuesday, Oct. 15, 6:30 p.m.
 
School Committee candidates Emily Daunais, Robert Moulton and David Sookey; and council candidates Wayne Wilkinson, Marie T. Harpin and Bryan Sapienza appeared at this forum that is being broadcast on NBCTV. It was sponsored by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students in professor Samantha Pettey's "State and Local Politics" and the North Adams Chamber of Commerce.

 


Tags: candidate forum,   debate,   election 2019,   


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NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners officially accepted the resignation of Executive Director Jennifer Hohn and restored access to the Tenants Association office.

The board held a special meeting Thursday to vote to accept Hohn's resignation and determined that there are currently no plans to replace her.

"We didn't make any final determinations in terms of the executive session so we will schedule another meeting at another time," Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah said after returning from more than an hour session. "Day-to-day operations will continue to be managed as normal by staff."

Per their bylaws, board member Marie Harpin will continue to handle finances, and Uqdah will manage contracts.

Hohn stepped down on Oct. 8 after 24 years leading the agency. Her resignation followed rising tension between her and the NAHA Tenants Association, culminating in the scheduling of a formal grievance hearing between both parties.

The boiling point was the locking of the association's office this summer. Tenants alleged the lockout was retaliation for posting a video on social media depicting improperly functioning door alarms. Hohn claimed the office was locked for tenant safety and to stop the spread of misinformation.

Tenants Association President Corey Fortin asked if Hohn's security access had been removed. Uqdah confirmed her credentials were revoked the day she resigned, meaning she can no longer monitor security cameras remotely.

Jennifer Barbeau, a former city councilor who was liaison to the Housing Authority, asked when the board met to discuss Hohn's severance package. Uqdah stated that Hohn did not have one.

The board also accepted the resignation of Commissioner Richard Lavigne, though they will vote officially on the matter at their next meeting.

The open portion of the meeting was brief, with nearly an hour and a half spent in executive session. Before entering executive session, the board opened the floor to tenants.

"The tenants requested an opportunity to talk to the board," said Uqdah. "It has been quite a while, but we have decided to honor that."

Fortin, who posted the original video to social media, was the first to speak. He was clear in his request: unlock the office door.

"Let's cut straight to the chase tonight. The former resigned Director Jennifer Hohn ordered the office locked," he alleged. "She is gone. The lockout is a direct violation, and the board has a duty to end that tonight."

He cited federal and state laws that mandate the tenants association be provided with office space, including computer and network access.

"We are here with a direct administrative demand. We demand that the board vote tonight to unlock the doors," he said. "Do not let a resigned director's illegal action remain the board's ongoing liability. Open our door tonight, and let us get back to work."

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