Letter: Macksey Understands How to Manage City

Letter to the EditorPrint Story | Email Story

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.

 

 


If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Busy Road Project Summer for North Adams

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city is going to have a very busy road project summer. 
 
Mayor Jennifer Macksey updated the Finance Committee on Tuesday about some of the work being planned, including Berkshire Gas' plans to replace pipes along West Main Street. 
 
"We're working with Berkshire Gas on our project for West Main Street," she said. "The gas company to be laying new gas lines, which is going to be a disaster, from Brayton Hill to Brown Street. 
 
"However, we received a grant to pave after they're done, from Notch Road all the way up to Ed's Variety (on Union Street). We haven't really announced it yet, because we've been waiting for the state to say we're ready to do it."
 
The mayor said it's something of a shell game with Berkshire Gas on what lines they have to repair, how it impacts the neighborhoods, and following behind them. 
 
The city meets with utility a couple times a year to map out their strategies because they have a threshold that they have to get to by a certain date, she said. 
 
"I don't really care about what they have to do. I just want to know that we're going to have quality streets when they're done," Macksey said. "But the paving for Route 2, from Notch Road, basically the Ed's Variety to the five roads is going to be cool. Construction will be crazy, but it will be cool."
 
View Full Story

More North Adams Stories