Election 2009: Boucher Backs Housing Commission

01:32AM / Saturday, October 31, 2009Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Ronald Boucher, 52, of 645 Barbour St. is running for a sixth term as city councilor.

He is marred to the former Ellen Shea and three children, Sarah, Joe and Meghan, and three grandchilren. He works in coporate sales for Ecolab, a sanitation supply firm.

For some time, Boucher also has been the North Adams representative to the Hoosac Water Quality District, which operates the wastewater treatment plant for both North Adams and Williamstown. He has also served as vice president of the council is currently the chairman of the Public Safety Committee and a member of the Traffic Commission.

"The reason for seeking a sixth term is simple," said Boucher. "I enjoy public service and being able to help others in the community, and help make North Adams an attractive and affordable destination for families."

He continued:

There are many issues that we will face over the next two years as councilors. The biggest issue is we continue sound fiscal management practices, and to continue to look for new revenue sources. For example, the Mohawk Theater, Clark Biscuit building, the former city gravel bank, are three projects that will help increase tax base revenues.

Secondly, I want to continue to make North Adams an attractive, safe and affordable community to raise a family and invest in business and bring jobs to the city.

Third, I am in favor of a Housing Commission that will set expectations for buyers of property they purchase. I want to eliminate the type of property owner whose only goal is to suck the property dry and leave its tenants in limbo and for the absentee landlord who just collects the rent and does nothing else for there tenants there needs to be accountability!

As for the landlords who invest in their properties and provide good quality housing, I want to say thank you!

We have become an arts and cultural center with the Massachusetts Musuem of Contemporary Art, the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, and the Eclipse Mill and NoAMA in North Adams. We are a tourist destination now and forever. But we must not put all of our eggs in one basket, we need to continue to explore other forms of economic growth for the city and its downtown, and be supportive of existing business

Curran Highway and the Lowe's project and the sale of the gravel bank and pending development at that site will all be major sources of tax revenues for the city, but most important is the creation of new jobs with a good pay scale and benefits.

AND YES NORTH ADAMS IS ON THE RIGHT PATH, NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE.

Submitted by Ronald Boucher

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Northern Berkshire United Way: War and Peace

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
09:38PM / Saturday, February 28, 2026

Northern Berkshire United Way is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. Each month, we will take a look back at the agency's milestones over the decades. This first part looks at its successes and challenges during the war years.

The Community Chest started the decade on the upswing but ended with a decline in fundraising. A bright spot was its establishment of new agencies to help the citizens of North Adams and Clarksburg.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Community Chest ended its first decade on an upswing, even as the clouds were darkening over Europe.

But what goes up, must eventually come down.

The 1940 campaign drive again set a goal of $39,600 and volunteers toted up $23,000 at the first meeting.

James Hunter Machine was the first to attain 100 percent enrollment with annual gift of $6.13 per person for a total of $1,275. Some 200 businesses and organizations hit their red feather level of 100 percent, including all of the schools as well as State Teachers College.

The litany of businesses and organizations included long-gone establishments such as Simmons Funeral Home, Spofford Motors, McCann Ice Cream Co., C.H. Cutting, West End Market, Apothecary Hall, Florini's Italian Garden, and Pizzi's, along with still existing enterprises like Whitney's Beverage Shop, Cascade Paper and Mount Williams Greenhouse.

The now annual dinner was served by the Ladies Aid Society of First Congregational at the YMCA, and attendees were entertained by singers from the Advent Christian Church, directed by the Rev. Martin Ball and accompanied by his wife on the piano. "Assisting in useful capacities" were YMCA junior members Howard Goodermote, Roy Modlinger, Fred Myers, Norman Remillard, George Grenier, Wallace Konopka and Anthony Pessolano.

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