NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Thirteen people have so far pulled nomination papers for City Council and Mayor Thomas Bernard has announced he will seek re-election.
Bernard will make a formal announcement on Thursday, June 13, at 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn. He pulled his nomination papers on Friday for second two-year term.
"I look forward to working with the residents of North Adams as we continue to build our shared future on a foundation of economic development, community revitalization, and sustainability," he said in a press release. "I look forward to building on the strong foundation my team and I established with the support of so many in our community."
Council incumbents taking out papers so far include Keith Bona, Marie T. Harpin, Benjamin Lamb, Jason M. LaForest, and Wayne Wilkinson. Bona, current council president is attempting his fifth consecutive term; he also served several terms in the 1990s. Harpin and LaForest were first elected in 2017, and Wilkinson was returned that year after losing his seat in the prior election and then being appointed to complete a term.
Lamb was elected 2013, part of a cohort of younger candidates who significantly changed the face of council. So far, he is the only one of that group standing for election this year. Both Eric Buddington and Joshua Moran, who came into office with him, have indicated they will be not be running for a fourth term. Rebbecca Cohen and Paul Hopkins, who both won office in 2017, have not taken out nomination papers at this point.
Should all the incumbents running be re-elected, that will still leave at four open seats on the nine-person council.
Taking out papers for council as of late last week are Ronald Sheldon, Bryan A. Sapienza, Robert Cardimino and Roger Eurbin, all of whom have run, or indicated a desire to run, in the past. Also taking out papers are newcomers Jonathan Schnauber, Cameron Lapine, Peter J. Oleskiewicz (who ran in the preliminary mayoral race in 2017), and Jessica Sweeney.
There are also three seats up for election on the School Committee currently held by Karen Bond, Nicholas Fahey and Tara Jacobs and three on the Northern Berkshire Vocational Technical School District (McCann School Committee) currently held by Rachel Branch, George Canales and William Diamond. Branch has indicated she does not plan to run for a second term.
Update: Jacobs has returned her papers for School Committee and Bond has said she intends to run.
Nomination papers have been available since April 2 and must be submitted with the required 50 signatures of registered voters by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 19. The last day to withdraw is Aug. 6.
Should there be a preliminary election — in the case of three mayoral candidates or 19 council candidates — the last day to register to vote is Aug. 28 by 8 p.m. The last day to register to vote in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, is Oct. 16; absentee ballots must be completed by noon on Monday, Nov. 4.
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NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office
By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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."
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. click for more
That was the list of grievances that current and former tenants of the North Adams Housing Authority's high rise laid before the City Council on Tuesday.
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City officials want to know if the attorney general will defend them if they refuse to abide by certain provisions in a federal grant for the Police Department. click for more