North Adams Gets More City Council Candidates

02:21PM / Friday, April 28, 2023Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There is some potential for new faces on the City Council and School Committee this year, though it's too early in the election season to make any predictions.

So far, four of the nine incumbent city councilors have taken out papers for re-election: Keith Bona, Peter Oleskiewicz, Bryan Sapienza and Ashley Shade. They've been joined by five challengers: Colin Bain, Robert Cardimino, Emily Johnson, Deanna Morrow and Ronald Sheldon.

Both Cardimino and Sheldon have run unsuccessfully in the past; the other three are newcomers. Cardimino is the first candidate to return nomination papers, handing them in on April 26.

Sapienza and Shade were the first incumbents to pull papers. A few other councilors have said they were waiting to make a decision but Bona pulled papers this week after being slapped with his first Open Meeting Law violation, saying he did not want to end his tenure on a bad note. Bona will be running for an eighth consecutive term although he also served a couple terms in the 1990s.

Oleskiewicz will be seeking his second full term after being appointed to complete an unexpired term in 2020.

Tara Jacobs is the only School Committee incumbent to pull papers so far. She is seeking a third term. Newcomers Cody Chamberlain and Eric Wilson have also pulled papers for the three four-year seats up for election.

All three incumbents on the McCann School Committee have taken out papers for re-election: Peter Breen, George Canales and William Diamond. Diamond returned his papers on April 27.

Jennifer Macksey is running for a second term as mayor and, to date, has no challenger.

Nominees must submit the signatures of 50 registered voters for any of the offices up for election. Papers must be received by the Registrars of Voters by 5 p.m. on Aug. 1; the last day to withdraw is Aug. 17.

A preliminary election will be held if there number of candidates is double the seats open plus one. For example, at least three candidates or 19 for City Council.

A preliminary election, if necessary, will be held on Sept. 19; the general election is Nov. 7, both from 9 to 7 at St. Anthony's Parish Hall. The last day to register to vote is Sept. 9 and Oct. 28, respectively.

These dates are correct and an update from a previous schedule issued by the city clerk's office.

Tags: election 2023, municipal election,

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

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
03:33PM / Friday, October 16, 2026

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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