NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's a contest shaping up for mayor as three people have now taken out nomination papers for the corner office.
Thomas Bernard announced his intention to run for a second term last month at a kickoff event at the Richmond Grille. This past week, Rachel Branch took out papers and announced on July 3 her intent to run. Also taking out papers is Richard David Greene.
Should all three get enough signatures certified, then a preliminary election will have to be held. That also could occur for City Council, which is now two potential candidates away from a preliminary to narrow the field.
Bernard was elected in 2017 to succeed Richard Alcombright, who decided against running for a fifth term.
Branch, a McCann School Committee member, also had run for mayor two years ago but was eliminated in the preliminary with two other candidates.
The number of City Council candidates is now up to 17, with only five of the sitting councilors taking out nomination papers. Keith Bona, Marie T. Harpin, Jason Laforest, Benjamin Lamb and Wayne Wilkinson are seeking re-election; Eric Buddington, Rebbecca Cohen, Paul Hopkins and Joshua Moran have indicated they would not.
Lisa Blackmer, who served on the council for a decade, is seeking to return after a two-year absence. Also taking out papers are Ronald K. Sheldon, Bryan K. Sapienza, Jonathan Schnauber, Cameron Lapine, Roger J. Eurbin, Robert Cardimino, Peter J. Oleskiewicz, Jessica Sweeney, Ashley M. Shade, Michael I. Obasohan, and Trupthi Mehta.
Sapienza, Cardimino and Shade have previously run but were not able to garner the votes to get one of the nine at-large seats. The others are largely newcomers to city politics, although Oleskiewicz had tried for mayor and Eurbin a last-minute council run in the past.
Of the 17 who took out papers, seven have returned them to have signatures certified.
Taking out papers for School Committee are Tara Jacobs, who is running for a third term, and David Sookey III and Emily Daunis. Incumbents Karen Bond and Nicholas Fahey have not so far taken out papers.
George Canales and William R. Diamond are both seeking re-election as North Adams representatives on the McCann School Committee.
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.
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North Adams Schools Talk Final Budget Numbers for Public Hearing
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
The elementary schools will be phasing in a new math curriculum over the next two years.
The subcommittee is recommending the budget of $20,357,096, up $302,744 or 1.51 percent over this year. This was expected to be funded by $16,418,826 in state Chapter 70 education funds, local funding of $3,938,270 (up $100,000 over this year) and a drawdown of school funds of $575,237. This will also include the closure of Greylock School at the end of this year and the reduction of 26 full-time positions.
A hybrid public hearing on the budget will be held on Thursday, May 23, at 5:30 at Brayton School, with a vote by the School Committee to immediately follow.
The extra $100,000 from the city will likely not be part of this funding package, warned Mayor Jennifer Macksey, chair of the School Committee.
"Going through all my process on the city side, so to say, with the rest of my departments, it's going to be really hard for me to squeak out the additional $100,000," said the mayor, alluding to a budget gap of $600,000 to $800,000 for fiscal 2025 she's trying to close.
"I just want to be fully transparent with everyone sitting here, and as your School Committee chair, I don't know if the city budget is going to be able to squeak out that $100,000. That number will most likely change."
Director of School Finance and Operations Nancy Rauscher said the $100,000 had been a placeholder with administration understanding that it could change.
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The fate of the facility attached to Brayton School has been in limbo since the closure of the pool last year because of structural issues and the departure of the Berkshire Family YMCA in March.
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The School Committee will be presented next week with a $20 million spending plan for fiscal 2025 that includes closing Greylock School and a reduction of 26 full-time positions.
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