North Adams Council Declines to Make Airport Commission Retroactive

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
09:26AM / Friday, November 26, 2021Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council on Tuesday declined to appoint "retroactive" members to the Airport Commission.

Two months ago, Mayor Thomas Bernard had appointed Daniel Caplinger and Bonnie Howland to a commission that had been down to two members during the summer.

Bernard's reading of the appointments in ordinance had pointed to his ability to name commissioners without council confirmation but in speaking with the city solicitor, KP Law, found this was incorrect.

Caplinger had been appointed Aug. 24 and Bonnie Howland on Oct. 13, both with terms to end March 1, 2023. Based on an opinion by KP Law, the mayor asked that both appointments be made retroactive to those dates so that any votes be made legal.

Councilor Benjamin Lamb said he was wary that too many precedents were being set and questioned the need to make them retroactive.

"We would basically repeat all of the votes that we did in the past," said Caplinger, who attended the meeting. "But it would take time and it would take some extra effort."

Lamb thought that would be challenging for the commission "but from our end, it would be more in line with what we've done in standard practice."

Councilor Wayne Wilkinson asked if any monetary issues had been voted on. Caplinger noted that the commission had authorized the interim manager to enter into a lease agreement but that had not been completed.

Lamb motioned to amend the appointments to begin as of that night, Nov. 23. This was approved and the appointments confirmed.

The council did confirm the appointments to the Human Services Commission of Heidi Shartrand-Newell to complete the unexpired term of Ashley Shade, who was elected to council, and which ends Feb. 1, 2024.

It also confirmed the first appointments to the Youth Commission, which was amended in later summer to encourage more involvement. The commission will now consist of nine voting members of which six should be aged 13 to 20.

The council confirmed Alexa Macdonald, with a term expiring Dec. 1, 2023, and Piper Jacobs, Hope Motta, and Jessica Sweeney, with terms expiring Dec. 1, 2024.

Bernard said he will bring five more appointments forward at the next meeting.

In other business, the council:

• Approved the appropriation of $40,000 from the land sale account for the Safe Routes to School project at Brayton School. The project requires three permanent and seven temporary easements. A total five properties, three of which are under municipal ownership.

• Gave final approval of a new commission to be known as the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Commission.

• Referred an ordinance change on clearing sidewalks of snow to General Government to address the opinion received from legal counsel and postponed a proposed ordinance on short-term rentals.

The mayor also read a proclamation on Transgender Day of Remembrance that was issued for Nov. 20 into the record.

Tags: airport commission, appointments,

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NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
03:33PM / Friday, October 16, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners officially accepted the resignation of Executive Director Jennifer Hohn and restored access to the Tenants Association office.

The board held a special meeting Thursday to vote to accept Hohn's resignation and determined that there are currently no plans to replace her.

"We didn't make any final determinations in terms of the executive session so we will schedule another meeting at another time," Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah said after returning from more than an hour session. "Day-to-day operations will continue to be managed as normal by staff."

Per their bylaws, board member Marie Harpin will continue to handle finances, and Uqdah will manage contracts.

Hohn stepped down on Oct. 8 after 24 years leading the agency. Her resignation followed rising tension between her and the NAHA Tenants Association, culminating in the scheduling of a formal grievance hearing between both parties.

The boiling point was the locking of the association's office this summer. Tenants alleged the lockout was retaliation for posting a video on social media depicting improperly functioning door alarms. Hohn claimed the office was locked for tenant safety and to stop the spread of misinformation.

Tenants Association President Corey Fortin asked if Hohn's security access had been removed. Uqdah confirmed her credentials were revoked the day she resigned, meaning she can no longer monitor security cameras remotely.

Jennifer Barbeau, a former city councilor who was liaison to the Housing Authority, asked when the board met to discuss Hohn's severance package. Uqdah stated that Hohn did not have one.

The board also accepted the resignation of Commissioner Richard Lavigne, though they will vote officially on the matter at their next meeting.

The open portion of the meeting was brief, with nearly an hour and a half spent in executive session. Before entering executive session, the board opened the floor to tenants.

"The tenants requested an opportunity to talk to the board," said Uqdah. "It has been quite a while, but we have decided to honor that."

Fortin, who posted the original video to social media, was the first to speak. He was clear in his request: unlock the office door.

"Let's cut straight to the chase tonight. The former resigned Director Jennifer Hohn ordered the office locked," he alleged. "She is gone. The lockout is a direct violation, and the board has a duty to end that tonight."

He cited federal and state laws that mandate the tenants association be provided with office space, including computer and network access.

"We are here with a direct administrative demand. We demand that the board vote tonight to unlock the doors," he said. "Do not let a resigned director's illegal action remain the board's ongoing liability. Open our door tonight, and let us get back to work."

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