North Adams Extends Due Dates for City Bills

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Mayor Thomas Bernard announced Friday that in accordance with provisions of legislation passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor, the city of North Adams will extend due dates on real estate and personal property bills, motor vehicle excise bills, water and sewer bills, and exemption and deferral applications until June 1, 2020. These extensions apply regardless of the due date printed on the bills.

In addition, the city will waive the payment of interest and other penalties on late payments that were due after March 10, 2020 and paid before June 30, 2020, for any excise, tax, betterment assessment, water or sewer bill, or other charge added to a tax. This newly granted authority only allows municipal chief executives to extend payment deadlines and waive interest and penalties through the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2020. Under the new state legislation, payments made after June 30, 2020 will be subject to interest and penalties back to June 1, 2020.

"I’m grateful to Representative Barrett and Senator Hinds, to our Berkshire legislative delegation, and to the Baker-Polito administration for providing this flexibility to North Adams residents and those throughout the county and the commonwealth," Bernard said. "While the city encourages timely payment of bills, I understand many residents are facing challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope these extensions will help provide some relief at a time when we all could use one less thing to worry about."

The city also will comply with the terms of this new legislation that prohibit termination of services such as water for nonpayment of taxes or fees due on or after March 10, 2020, and paid after the due date but before June 30, 2020. This situation applies when the nonpayment resulted from a demonstrated inability to pay due to the COVID-19 outbreak or the March 10, 2020, emergency declaration by the governor, provided that the inability to pay shall include a demonstrated financial hardship of a resident, including but not limited to loss of employment, serious illness or death of someone within the home.

In addition, following Gov. Charlie Baker's March 31 announcement extending the non-essential business emergency order and guidance for executive branch employees until May 4, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, municipal offices and buildings in the city of North Adams will remain closed to the public and non-emergency personnel until May 4. The North Adams Public Schools also will remain closed until May 4.

During this time, city staff are available to the public by phone and email. Staff also will work with members of the public to schedule appointments for any business that needs to be conducted in person.

Payments will be accepted by mail, online at www.northadams-ma.gov or may be dropped off in the secure drop boxes installed at each entrance to City Hall. For questions regarding payments, contact the Treasurer's Office at 413-662-3000, Ext. 3044, or email bcooper@northadams-ma.gov.

Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:15PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.

 

More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing  Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.

 

Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.

 

One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly. 

 

"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."

 

Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.

 

Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.