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All That Snow Expected to Fall Southward

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NEVERMIND:  The National Weather Service has canceled its Winter Storm Warning and has a Winter Weather Advisory only in place for the Berkshires from 1 a.m. Monday to 7 p.m. Tuesday. 
 
Total snow expected: 2 to 4 inches. South County could get up to 6. 
 
This fast-moving storm is heading south and east and may miss us completely. 

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Parts of the Berkshires could get nearly a foot of snow early this week as a Nor'easter barrels through New England. 

The bulk of the storm system is now expected to pass below North Berkshire. NWS says there will be a sharp cutoff between low and high snowfall accumulations but uncertainty in how far north and west the axis of heaviest show will extend. 
 
The snow line cutoff looks to go through Pittsfield with North Berkshire getting anywhere from 2 to 6 inches.
 
The rest of the state might not be so lucky. Gov. Maura Healey has notified nonessential executive office employees to stay home and Boston and Springfield have already closed schools. 

"This is a #noreaster with #bombogenesis - expect the worst" tweeted NBC Boston's Pete Bouchard on Sunday morning.

The dire warnings of heavy snow for Northern Berkshires over the weekend shifted drastically south by Monday morning. 

The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., on Sunday evening added a Winter Storm Warning for Southern Berkshire beginning a 1 a.m. Monday through Tuesday.
 
A Winter Storm Watch was issued earlier on Sunday for North Berkshire remains in effect from late Monday night through Tuesday evening. This covers New York's Capital District, all of Southern Vermont as well. 
 
The forecast so far is for heavy wet snow overnight Monday that could seriously hamper the morning community. Snowfall rates could exceed one inch an hour overnight. It's possible the higher elevations could see more snow. 
 
Accuweather's "StormMax" is 17 inches in the higher elevations.
 
CBS WBZ-TV in Boston is warning of blizzard conditions, particularly during Tuesday morning and afternoon. The track of the storm as it moves north up the coast will determine how much snow and where it will impact most. WBZ-TV on Sunday said Boston has not had more than 4 inches of snow in 715 days. 
 
Greylock Snow Day's Confidence Meter is at 75 percent chance of a snow day for South County on Tuesday based on current timing of the storm and an estimated snowfall of 5 to 10 inches. Chances for a snow day in North County has been reduced to 15 percent and 50 percent in Central Berkshires.
 
iBerkshires will update this article as new information and cancellations are announced. Residents should assume snow emergencies will be declared by Monday are reminded not to park overnight on the streets to facilitate snowplowing. 
 
Pittsfield declared a snow emergency early Monday but cancelled it Tuesday morning. 

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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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