Pittsfield's Babineau Leads MCLA Men to Second-Place

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GUILDERLAND, N.Y. -- The MCLA men's cross country team competed Saturday at the Panther Open hosted by the Albany College of Pharmacy Health and Sciences at Tawasentha Park.
 
Saint Rose won the team competition with 33 points; MCLA placed second with 58 points and Vermont Tech finished third with 59 points.
 
Saint Rose sophomore Matthew Waruch won the individual title with an 8k time of 32:00.0 edging out the next four finishers by less than 5 seconds. MCLA sophomore David Babineau of Pittsfield led the way for the Trailblazers finish in sixth place with a time of 32:51.3.
 
MCLA will next race in a dual meet at the James Early Invitational hosted by Westfield State University next Saturday at Stanley Park.
 
Women's Cross Country
GUILDERLAND, N.Y. -- The MCLA women placed third at the Panther open behind a sixth-place finish from Kristie Zator, who finished in 29:57.5.
 
Russell Sage's Elizabeth Ingellis won the 6-kilometer event in 27:18.8. Saint Rose won the team title.
 
Men's Soccer
BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. -- Hoosac Valley gradaute Jacob Richardson scored in the 32nd minute, and Mount Greylock grad Sam Edge stopped three shots Friday as MCLA earned a 1-0 win at Mass Maritime.
 
Women's Soccer
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Savanna Amaral scored to erase a one-goal deficit and send the MCLA women on to a 1-1 tie against Mass Maritime on Saturday.
 
MCLA keeper Jillian Currier stopped 12 shots as the team improved to 1-5-2 this fall.
 
MCLA travels to Utica on Wednesday.
 
Volleyball
SARATOGA SPRINGS. N.Y. -- Skidmore took both ends of a double-header from MCLA on Saturday.
 
Chloe Garber had 13 kills and 20 digs in a four-set loss in the opener. She had eight kills and nine digs to lead the Trailblazers in the nightcap.
 
MCLA (9-5) is home on Wednesday against Albertus Magnus.
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NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff

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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