image description — Police Chief Jason Wood, seen in this file photo, will not have his contract renewed after an investigation.

North Adams Police Chief Relieved of Duties

11:04AM / Saturday, March 25, 2023Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police Chief Jason Wood has been relieved of his duties and will leave the department as of June 30.

The 20-year veteran of the force was put on paid administrative leave earlier this month for what was described as a "non-criminal" matter that was being investigated by the city's legal team. Officials have declined to detail was was being investigated, saying it was a personnel matter.

Mayor Jennifer Macksey, in a brief email Saturday morning, said he will remain on paid administrative leave and had been notified his contract will not be renewed.

"I have lost trust and confidence in his abilities to lead the North Adams Police Department," she wrote. "This is my only comment relevant to this matter."

Lt. Anthony Beverly has been managing the department since Wood was put on leave and will continue in the interim. Macksey said she will be rolling out an interim plan with details to follow later.

Wood was appointed chief in 2019 by then Mayor Thomas Bernard, becoming the first appointed chief in 40 years. The city had operated under a commissioner of public safety with fire and police directors.

He was chosen over two other outside candidates for the position for his strong roots in the communities and familiarity with the department.

Beverly is a 17-year veteran of the force and was promoted to sergeant in 2017 and to lieutenant not long after.

The change in force leadership comes as the department is moving into new temporary quarters in the Berkshire Plaza because of the police station's poor conditions.

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Letter: North Adams Parking Survey

Letter to the Editor05:00PM / Wednesday, January 14, 2026

To the Editor:

I am inviting North Adams residents and visitors to take part in a citizen-developed survey about parking in our city. As a new resident, I was surprised to learn about the winter nighttime parking ban only after receiving a ticket. My appeal was denied, despite the fact that the ban was not proactively communicated. Information online is scattered, and enforcement dates appear inconsistent. In five other Massachusetts communities where I have lived, I never encountered a total winter parking ban.

Conversations with neighbors and local friends suggest that communication failures are a recurring issue for drivers here. From parking meters without posted enforcement hours, to Mass MoCA event parking, to the winter overnight ban, residents and visitors alike are left confused. To encourage better communication, I believe tickets issued without clear notice should be waived. With the city already investing in CodeRed alerts and maintaining a downtown marquee, it should not be difficult to keep drivers informed of parking rules.

I know I'm just one person with a limited view of the bigger picture. That's why I'm hoping this survey will collect a wide range of experiences and ideas. I'll share the results with City Council so we can push for clearer communication and better parking policies. Please take a few minutes to fill it out and make sure your voice is heard.

The parking survey can be found here.

Elizabeth Neiderman
North Adams, Mass.

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