NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The incoming City Council will take up new Rules of Order on Tuesday that were submitted by President Michael Bloom.
The new rules include a hearing of visitors at the beginning of the meeting in addition to the open forum at the end. No debate will be allowed during either but the president has the discretion to allow officials or department heads to "present factual information that may correct or dispute information" presented in open forum.
Visitors and councilors are warned to act respectfully, and the president retains the discretion to rule members of the public out of order for their remarks and to have them removed if they disrupt the proceedings.
Council proceedings over the past year in particular have been marked by certain citizens attempting to question and engage the mayor and council in debate.
In an opinion accompanying the rules, City Solicitor John DeRosa states:
We conclude the Rules of Order, as adopted, to be legal and in conformity with local, state and federal law, and are in keeping with the rules of order customarily adopted for the governance of similar legislative bodies. We do not find that the Rules of Order violate individual constitutional rights and protections, inlcuding every citizen's right to free speech and public expression. Likewse, we conclude the Rules of Orders, as amended, are legal and similarly appropriate.
The entire opinion and the rest of the agenda for Tuesday's meeting can be found here.
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Your Comments
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In the last two years only three people have been gaveled for being out of order. One of them is the current president.
In the past two years, the City Council has had a weak president, who allowed disorder to reign in Council meetings. The gavel SHOULD HAVE been used numerous times to silence unruly individuals and restore order to the proceedings, but it was not.
City Council meetings have been a crude embarrassment for long enough. I'm looking forward to the restoration of dignity and decorum.
"tellthetruth" may be correct in stating that only 3 people were called out of order, but the real truth is that many more should have been call out of order. Perhaps, after invoking the new rules, civility will return to the council chambers.
I posted a comment a few hours ago, and just checked back to read other comments that might have been posted since then. The link to this article said that there are 5 comments. When I clicked the link, I noticed only 1 comment, and it was not mine.
Councilors Bloom and Blackmer have been the only two councilors that have been rude and arrogant towards people that have tried to speak at council meetings. They have interrupted by speaking out before people have finished their questions or comments. It is up to the council president to maintain order. They are the only two that think they have a right to just speak out at any time. Now the rule breakers are the rule makers. Hypocrisy
Hinc @ Guy You stated the last council president was weak??? I guess the council members did not think so , they all voted for him. Even if, ( as you say) he was weak that does not give the right for council members to shout out and try to control the meeting for him. You talk of dignity and decorum well perhaps councilors Bloom and Blackmer should try and show some. Again they are the only two that have felt the need to do this time and time again. If they ever expect from anyone they first must show some.
The golden boy is about to speak, a mer mortal doing the work of a whiping boy, the silencing of the lamps, be-ware all "Hooligans " the raft is coming to a end.
Little golden boy and his puppet are now coming to steal the show.
THE WAR of words played on the good citizens of North Adams, as they are now called"New Revised Order, Hearing of Visitors", No speaking out, No debate, just pay your taxes on time and be silent the master has spoken, "The Carnival is back in Town".
Editor Why is it you are not posting comments ??
Are you afraid of possible repercussions from the new rule maker ?? Is it that easy to control the press ??? Shame on you.
Editor: I took a day off because I didn't feel well. Some commenters certainly seem intent on finding conspiracies where there aren't any. And any suggestions that someone - anyone - is "controlling" us is just ludicrous.
Tammy is a well known supporter of DA. She just refuses to admit it, but her actions of course speak louder. Bloom and blackmer constantly interupt speakers. This will be entertaining to watch, since bloom is the mayor's lapdog.
Posted with the permission of city hall, right tammy?
Editor Hope you are feeling better.
Ludicrous no we have seen comments from the mayors supporters that hint about the businesses that advertise on this page. Also you have never mentioned that you have witnessed outbursts from councilor Bloom. So by not doing so you have planted the seed of conspiracy.
Again I hope you are feeling better.
Editor: OK, I have witnessed outbursts by Michael Bloom, Alan Marden, John Barrett III, Marie Harpin, Lisa Blackmer, Robert Cardimino (every two weeks), Ronald Boucher, and other instances I can't readily recall at various meetings and committee meetings. And "hint about the businesses that advertise on this page," no, can't say that's ever happened but then I don't always pay attention to a lot of the comments. Most of you are predictable and repetitive and all kind of run together.
Editor You prove my point. 5 city councilors have been prone to outbursts and only 2 guests. Sounds like more guests have shown Dignity and Decorum than the majority of councilors. So those who break the rules are making more rules to prevent the people that obay the rules from speaking . Now I understand ? What ??
Editor: No, no, not "prone to outbursts." Just the occasional from my nearly five years of reporting City Council. The "guests" have been far more vitriolic at times.
"Hypocrisy". If, by stating that there should have been more people called out of order at the council meetings, I implied that the previous council president was weak, then so be it. I did not, however, make that statement.
You are right about councilors not having the "right" to be out of order. There is, however, no way that I stated or even implied that in my last post.
I agree with the balance of what you are trying to say. Everyone, including all of the councilors, the mayor and the public should show "dignity and decorum". If there are rules, then live or die by them. But, don't cry that the rules are illegal or unconstitutional when they are enforced, because they are not.
Wake up People, or should I say visitors of North Adams. How insulting I must say as the Golden Boy refer to the residents, and taxpayers of N.A as a visitor. I the visitor have supported and paid my taxes into this city for nearly 30 yr, and now I am referred to as a visitor in the new counci rules soon to be put in place by a rubber stamp council. How insulting. Once again wake up visitors, and put this dictatorship council in its rightful place.
Public Television announcement: To All North Adams Visitors, please be sure to tune on Public Access televsion this evening Tuesday, January 10th, 2012 on Channel 17 at 7:30 pm. Golden Boy Council President Bloom lays down the New World Order of the Rules and Regulations set forth by the newly elected rubber stamp council of D.A. This will take affect to immediately stifle you taxpaying visitors of North Adams.. You be the judge!
To DB Cooper: Enough of the ridiculous comments and name calling. I'm not putting up anymore of your comments until you calm down and stop acting like 8-year-old.
As someone formerly from the area I enjoy following Berkshire County news on Iberkshires, and reading the viewers comments. I must say it appears the residents of North Adams are extremely critical of their city government.
Would you say this is a fair assessment? And if so,why in your opinion as a media source are they more so than residents in nearby towns. Thank you, I look forward to your comments
Editor: I don't believe North Adams residents are more critical of their government than other towns. There is a small group of commenters (some using different names) that like to complain. And I use the term "complain" because their criticism is rather shallow and repetitive rather than insightful. The fact that we are located in North Adams and heavily cover the city also is certainly one reason that we have more comments.
On the other hand, articles about Adams certainly spark some heated comments as well.
It is good to at least know DB Cooper is alive and well. I know he had been MIA. DB, you must be one bad man having been censored and taken down by the high sheriff and her powerful media evil empire. Once again violating your first right first amendments. This Media censorship is fully sponsored by D.A, and the rubber stampers, aka Good ole boy Network.
If I could only be a fly on the wall reading your comments. They must be so truthful, it hurts.
Im VERY confused as to why the council DOESNT want to discuss comments and concerns from residents of North Adams. Are they not elected to represent the RESIDENTS?!!! Shouldn't they want to hear from residents? I've heard some VERY good ideas brought up by "average" residents (or should I say visitors)at the council meetings. They should be, at the very least taking these concerns into account, and not just what the Mayor puts forward. Its really almost laughable sometimes when you watch these meetings and see how certain memebers of the council get disgusted when residents (oops...sorry, I mean "visitors") make comments and have thoughts on issues. They make themselves look so very unprofessional and act like the visitors are not 'worthy' of their time. Its really annoying and disappointing to see such utter disrespect by elected "officials".
Armed North Adams Man Arrested Following Domestic Standoff
Staff Reports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Matthew Parker, a 44-year-old North Adams man, is set to face multiple counts of attempted murder and weapons charges in Northern Berkshire District Court on Friday morning following an hours-long, armed standoff at a Houghton Street home.
The defendant is being arraigned for:
Domestic Assault and Battery
Assault with the Intent to Murder (3 counts)
Carrying a Firearm While Under the Influence of Alcohol (3 counts)
Possession of a hi-capacity firearm (4 counts)
Improper Storage of a hi-capacity firearm (2 counts)
Improper Storage of a firearm (6 counts)
According to a report, on June 10, at approximately 8:42 p.m., officers responded to 365 Houghton St. following a report of a domestic assault and battery. The caller said she and her husband had been involved in a physical altercation.
She said her husband was intoxicated, making suicidal statements about shooting himself, and had access to both a shotgun and a pistol.
Upon arrival, officers made contact with both the caller and Parker. During the encounter, Parker threatened to shoot officers before retreating into the home and refusing to exit.
Officers believed that Parker was armed.
To ensure public safety, police established a perimeter around the home and requested assistance from the Berkshire County Special Response Team (SRT) and North Adams Police crisis negotiators. The Brien Center was also contacted and promptly provided an emergency mental health clinician to assist with the incident.
Special Response Team personnel deployed drones to monitor the residence and provide aerial illumination. During the operation, officers saw Parker exit the house carrying a rifle. He pointed it at the drones, stated a report. Parker subsequently pointed the rifle toward several officers positioned behind their cruisers. After officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, Parker returned inside the residence.
Trained crisis negotiators maintained communication with Parker for several hours in an effort to peacefully resolve the situation. At approximately 2 a.m., Parker ceased communication with negotiators.
Drone operators later observed Parker unconscious in a recliner on the first floor of the residence, with a rifle and shotgun on the floor nearby.
Members of the Berkshire County SRT then executed a coordinated operation. Diversionary devices were deployed through a window while an entry team simultaneously entered the home, secured the firearms, and took the defendant into custody.
A search warrant was executed after Parker was in custody. North Adams Police seized four shotguns, six rifles, two handguns, and thousands or rounds of ammunition from the home.
During the operation, one SRT member sustained a minor injury related to a less-lethal bean bag deployment. Parker also sustained non-life threatening injuries during the arrest and was transported to Berkshire Medical Center for medical evaluation.
"We thank the community for its patience and cooperation throughout this incident, particularly residents in the affected area who complied with temporary shelter-in-place requests," Police Chief Mark Bailey said. "The North Adams Police Department extends its sincere appreciation to the agencies that provided mutual aid and assisted by handling calls for service during this incident. We are especially grateful to the Berkshire County Special Response Team for its professional and decisive response, the Brien Center for the rapid deployment of a mental health clinician, and our crisis negotiators whose efforts helped maintain dialogue and contributed significantly to the safe resolution of this incident."
On Friday, June 12, Matthew Parker will be arraigned in Northern Berkshire District Court for an incident that occurred on Wednesday evening, June 10, into the early morning of Thursday, June 11. click for more
The upper section of Houghton Street was blocked off for hours on Wednesday night as authorities sought to deal with an individual reportedly having a mental health issue.
click for more
