Letter: Macksey Understands How to Manage City

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To the Editor:

As a former administrative officer for the city of North Adams (2001-2008), I write to urge the citizens of North Adams to elect Jennifer Macksey their next mayor. I can attest to Jen's sharp intellect, skilled financial management and good nature during the years we worked together when she was the city's top financial officer. Jen worked tirelessly on behalf of the residents of North Adams and has prepared herself, with her strong municipal background and experience in education administration, to be exceptionally qualified to do this remarkably difficult work.

There is no more difficult or important job than that of a mayor; I say this with confidence based on my own diverse and challenging work experience in both the private and public sectors. Jen Macksey has experienced firsthand the inherent difficulties in managing a city to meet the needs of its citizens while continually struggling to obtain and effectively use limited financial and other resources. She knows how to do this job and do it well.

It's been concerning to observe the current city government difficulties resulting in multiple resignations from incumbent city councilors. Now is not the time for on-the-job learning or training. Experience matters. Jen Macksey knows how to effectively position and utilize key resources on day one, which will be critical to the future success of North Adams. For these reasons, I urge the residents of North Adams to cast their vote for Jen Macksey on Nov. 2.
 

Mary Katherine Eade
North Adams, Mass. 

Mary Katherine Eade is a former administrative office for the city of North Adams.

 

 


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NBSU Gives Clarksburg Year's Budget Relief

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
FLORIDA, Mass. — The North Berkshire School Union voted to give member town Clarksburg a financial breather — at least for fiscal 2027.
 
Town and school officials had proposed changes last month as the town's assessment for the union administration climbed to 54 percent.
 
The "super" School Committee, after more than an hour of debate, voted 7-2 to raise the other four member towns' assessments by 2 percent, thus giving Clarksburg an 8 percent reduction.
 
Clarksburg officials had initially brought forward a proposal to set a base percentage for all the towns at 10 percent, with 5 percent for tiny Monroe, and then do the balance based on the current enrollment apportionment.
 
This was rejected by consensus and other proposals were hashed out at a recent subcommittee meeting. The 2 percent change was brought forward to Thursday's joint committee meeting, which is comprised of all the members of the town school committees.
 
"I do think it's important to come up with some sort of compromise, but I also believe that there's a lot of data that we need to start looking into throughout this one-year agreement that's going to help with a lot of these questions," said Savoy's Arleigh Cooper.
 
"I know that there's hesitation. We all looked at numbers at 10 percent at 5 percent I think there was maybe a 7.5 percent or maybe that was just my numbers on my own that I was calculating and even giving a small 2.5 percent for just a one year, I think shows Clarksburg, hey, we are willing to help you out. However, there's so much data that needs to be collected, and it's just too short of a window to do a large number."
 
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