Letter: Macksey Understands How to Manage City

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To the Editor:

As a former administrative officer for the city of North Adams (2001-2008), I write to urge the citizens of North Adams to elect Jennifer Macksey their next mayor. I can attest to Jen's sharp intellect, skilled financial management and good nature during the years we worked together when she was the city's top financial officer. Jen worked tirelessly on behalf of the residents of North Adams and has prepared herself, with her strong municipal background and experience in education administration, to be exceptionally qualified to do this remarkably difficult work.

There is no more difficult or important job than that of a mayor; I say this with confidence based on my own diverse and challenging work experience in both the private and public sectors. Jen Macksey has experienced firsthand the inherent difficulties in managing a city to meet the needs of its citizens while continually struggling to obtain and effectively use limited financial and other resources. She knows how to do this job and do it well.

It's been concerning to observe the current city government difficulties resulting in multiple resignations from incumbent city councilors. Now is not the time for on-the-job learning or training. Experience matters. Jen Macksey knows how to effectively position and utilize key resources on day one, which will be critical to the future success of North Adams. For these reasons, I urge the residents of North Adams to cast their vote for Jen Macksey on Nov. 2.
 

Mary Katherine Eade
North Adams, Mass. 

Mary Katherine Eade is a former administrative office for the city of North Adams.

 

 


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North Adams Draft Budget Includes Full-Time Tourism Director

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Finance Committee endorsed a half-dozen smaller budget lines for fiscal 2027 on Tuesday morning with the understanding two of the larger departments may be seeing cuts. 
 
The committee has not yet seen a total budget for FY27 but Mayor Jennifer Macksey said she anticipated bringing that figure to the committee next meeting. 
 
"I've given you most of the budgets that I don't feel I'm going to be slashing," she said. "Now I'm focusing on other departments that I need to make some decisions on. So I think at this point our next meeting will have the full budget."
 
Macksey said she's still trying to close a gap and "I've only got so much to around."
 
Committee Chair Lisa Blackmer asked if they could save the date for June 1, a Monday, as next week has Memorial Day and City Council on Tuesday. 
 
The committee unanimously voted to recommend the budgets for assessor, treasurer, city clerk, mayor's office, administrative officer, Office of Tourism and Events, Council on Aging and the library. 
 
Most of the increases in these budgets is for 3 percent cost-of-living and step salary increases with the exception of the assessor and the city clerk. The Office of Tourism and Events is also increased for a full-time director again. 
 
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