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North Adams Housing Authority Awaits Dry Cleaners Test Results

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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The Housing Authority will be in need of another member this year. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Housing Authority is awaiting final tests results on property it owns that once held a dry cleaning business.
 
Although there was no quorum at Monday's meeting of the Board of Commissioners meeting, Executive Director Jennifer Hohn had an update on the former Sun Cleaners on River Street. 
 
"It is done but there is no final report yet and I think that is what they are waiting for," she said.
 
The board, which also serves as Housing Opportunities Inc. board, plans to transfer all the HOI assets to the city of North Adams and dissolve the 30-year-old program created to help first-time homeowners.
 
The property at 111 River St. has been the last stitch holding the HOI intact. Some two years ago, the city was unwilling to accept this single last property without testing the property for contaminants. 
 
With multiple testings needed, Sun Cleaners has been in limbo for almost two years.
 
"I have been pressing for it and I was hoping this would happen years ago," Hohn said. "It's not me dragging my feet." 
 
It was believed that the last test would take place in March and this appears to have happened, however, Hohn said without this final report, the board cannot yet dissolve.
 
The Housing Authority does not anticipate any serious contamination.  
 
In other business, the Housing Authority will be in need of a new member after Commissioner Rachel Branch stated she did not wish to continue. Branch was appointed in November to complete a term that ends in July.
 
"This is my last meeting I told the mayor I was not interested in reappointment but I would consider staying on until the end of the year," she said.

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Clarksburg Sees Race for Select Board Seat

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town will see a three-way race for a seat on the Select Board in May. 
 
Colton Andrews, Seth Alexander and Bryana Malloy returned papers by Wednesday's deadline to run for the three-year term vacated by Jeffrey Levanos. 
 
Andrews ran unsuccessfully for School Committee and is former chairman of the North Adams Housing Authority, on which he was a union representative. He is also president of the Pioneer Valley Building Trades Council.
 
Malloy and Alexander are both newcomers to campaigning. Malloy is manager of industrial relations for the Berkshire Workforce Board and Alexander is a resident of Gates Avenue. 
 
Alexander also returned papers for several other offices, including School Committee, moderator, library trustee and the five-year seat on the Planning Board. He took out papers for War Memorial trustee and tree warden but did not return them and withdrew a run for Board of Health. 
 
He will face off in the three-year School Committee seat against incumbent Cynthia Brule, who is running for her third term, and fellow newcomer Bonnie Cunningham for library trustee. 
 
Incumbent Ronald Boucher took out papers for a one-year term as moderator but did not return them. He was appointed by affirmation in 2021 when no won ran and accepted the post again last year as a write-in.
 
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