NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council postponed action on a federal policing grant until the city solicitor could weigh in on several clauses referring to federal investigations. 

 

A motion to accept the grant failed 4-2; a motion to postpone to the Oct. 13 meeting and refer to the solicitor passed unanimously. 

 

The fiscal 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant is in the amount of $14,231. Mayor Jennifer Macksey explained that this grant is for the construction of an evidence room — not for technology or equipment — but to meet "best practices for secure storage documentation and then long-term holding."

 

Police Chief Mark Bailey said anyone brought into the station is under constant video and audio surveillance and that the goal was to ensure a continuity of evidence from the time it is taken from a suspect until it appears in court. 

 

"This buildout is to actually make our current evidence room into something more efficient for us, and to make sure that we're following the the accreditation process," he said. 

 

The current evidence room is not big enough or secure enough internally for storage of evidence, including drugs and firearms, that might be kept for years as cases work their way through the court system. 

 

"My goal is to eventually get accredited with the state. In order to do that, we have to have certain parameters for our evidence room, not just cameras or locking mechanisms, but within the evidence room as well," the chief said. "So this buildout is to actually make our current evidence room into something more efficient for us, and to make sure that we're following the the accreditation process."