image description — Mayor Jennifer Macksey addresses the City Council at her first meeting on Tuesday.

New North Adams Council Meets for First Time

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
03:51AM / Wednesday, January 12, 2022Print Story | Email Story

Councilor Michael Obasohan, left, pulls seat numbers and Councilor Bryan Sapienza pulls names for the seating order for the next year.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The new City Council met for the first time in a brief meeting on Tuesday that completed the organization of government and completed several items of business.

The City Council and Mayor Jennifer Macksey were sworn in on Jan. 1 at Drury High School. The council elected its president and vice president but did not set its seating order or rules of order.

Back in chambers on Tuesday, Councilor Michael Obasohan pulled seat numbers and Councilor Bryan Sapienza the names for the seating for the next term.

Councilors will be seated in order from 1 to 8 beginning next meeting: Keith Bona, Marie T. Harpin, Peter Oleskiewicz, Wayne Wilkinson, Ashley Shade, Jennifer Barbeau, Bryan Sapienza and Michael Obasohan.

The rules of order were referred to the General Government Committee. The rules determine how the council operates for the coming year.

The mayor asked that the portion of the meeting titled "mayor's concerns" be changed to "mayor's report" or "mayor's update." Many of the things she expected to talk about were positive things, she said, not really "concerns."

This was Macksey's first appearance at council as mayor.

"I've also reached out to all of you tonight to invite you into the office to really get to know each other and talk about how we're going to work together and moving forward," she said.

The council also adopted a change for the snow and ice removal ordinance that lengthened the time to clear sidewalks after a storm from 12 hours to 24 hours and changed enforcement authorities to the commissioner of public works and the code enforcement office or their designees.

The ordinance had been put forward by former Councilor Benjamin Lamb and President Lisa Blackmer noted it had "been through a few incarnations." Lamb had envisioned a broader ordinance that looked at sidewalk obstructions but after review by other committees and the city solicitor it had been whittled down.

"[The city solicitor] basically suggested we get rid of a lot of the new language and things that we added in and stick to the basics, which is what we wanted to do," said Blackmer.

The council also set a joint hearing with the Planning Board for a new ordinance on short-term rentals for Monday, Feb. 14, at 5 p.m.

In other business, the council set bonding for 2022 of $15,000 for the city clerk, $62,500 for the assistant city clerk, and $250,000 for treasurer/tax collector. The amounts are basically insurance policies set annually and determined by the state's Division of Local Services.

The council approved a hookup into the sewer system for Michael and Darlene LaPierre of Clarksburg and an application for Gregory Acevedo of North Adams to drive a taxi for RJ's Taxi.

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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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