Billings to Resign North Adams Council Seat

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
09:52PM / Tuesday, July 28, 2009Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — City Councilor Clark H. Billings will resign his seat next month.

Billings, who spent nearly 30 years in service to the city, has not attended any council meetings since the end of May. The retired professor moved to Rhode Island at that time but was maintaining his home in the city until it could be sold. He had expected to return to the city during the summer.

The City Council bid him farewell in May in case he was unable to make any more meetings. Council President Alan Marden said at Tuesday's council meeting that he had been in contact with Billings about his "lack of attendance."

In a phone conversation before the meeting, said Marden, "Billings informed me he will be resigning effective Aug. 29, the date of his retirement from MCLA."

Marden said he recommended not filling the position until the November election and that he had discussed the issue with both Billings and Mayor John Barrett III.

Billings had expressed a wish to let the voters replace him rather than the council, which in past circumstances has appointed the 10th-highest vote-getter in the previous election. That would have been Christopher J. Tremblay, who placed 38 votes behind Billings. Tremblay, who returned nomination papers for another run at the council, has since decided he will not stand for election.

Brian Flagg, also a candidate for City Council this year, had planned to ask the council to address Billings' absences. Flagg said he was concerned about comments the councilor had made on local message boards and, while he thought Billings should be appreciated for his service, he should be discouraged from staying on until January.

"I guess this takes care of it," he said afterward.

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Well, this is the most positive development I could have hoped for. Mr. Billings, having served honorably for all those years, ended his presence on the Council in an embarrassing manner. His rantings on the Topix pages were, if nothing else, "conduct unbecoming a Councilor." But as he pointed out many times, he was untouchable, and even, in his word, "invincible." Give me a break. The City charter needs to be amended to allow voters a quicker and more efficient way to remove a Councilor.
from: North Adams resident	on: 07-29-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Any elected official who behaves publicly the way Billings has behaved should be censured and/or asked to resign. It didn't have to end this way. Billings brought that on himself. Thank God the "Billings era" is over.
from: professionalism	on: 07-29-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Any MCLA student that had Clark Billings as a professor was very lucky indeed. I have a BA in history and a minor in Woman Studies. I would not be where I am today as an educator myself if it wasnâ€™t for the 5+ courses I took in American History from American Civilization to Profiles in Courage. Thank you Professor Billings and have a very happy and relaxing retirement.
from: Melanie Rancourt	on: 07-29-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

News Flash - Clark Billings torments dimwits on Topix boards.(they are easy pickins' for a provocateur like The Professor) Go get 'em Clark. Wish you and Janice the best in retirement.
from: news flash	on: 07-30-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

For once Marden makes the right choice. Thank god this lunatic, verbal abuser and superegocentric man is gone from the council for good! No wonder he is friends with Barrett. Huge step for North Adams. bye-bye billings the self called prince of darkness. This by itself speaks volumes!
from: finally	on: 07-31-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Nor'easter Set to Drop Foot of Snow Over Berkshires

03:00PM / Sunday, February 22, 2026

Update on the powerful Nor'easter set to drop up to a foot of snow over the region. This come right on the tail Friday's storm that dropped up to 6 inches in some areas.

The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., has shifted the winter storm warning issued from Saturday a few hours later; it now begins at 4 p.m. on Sunday but still runs through 7 p.m. on Monday for the Berkshires, eastern New York, Southern Vermont and northern Connecticut.

Heavy snow expected with total accumulations between 8 and 14 inches with some locally higher totals possible over the high peaks of the Catskills AND the Berkshires. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph.

The forecasted "bomb cyclone" is lining up to hit New York City with its first blizzard in a decade, but Western Mass will feel some of its effects.

The Berkshires will see flurries during the day but the Nor'easter will make its entrance later in the evening, first in South County between 5 and 8 and then moving north.

Vermont schoolchildren will be starting their winter vacation Monday but Berkshire kids will be headed back to school. But they might be getting an extra vacation day — Greylock Snow Day still has an 80 percent probability for of delays, but upgraded the chance of a snow to 90 percent for South County and 75 percent for north.

With the storm sweeping in by Sunday afternoon, we'll be on the lookout for any cancellations. This post will also be updated if new information becomes available.

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