Letter: Logging Unnecessary in North Adams

Letter to the Editor02:00PM / Wednesday, October 09, 2024Print Story | Email Story

To the Editor:

I can't imagine why anyone would agree to log the Bellows Pipe Trailhead at Mount Greylock State Reservation. But alas, Massachusetts Audubon and others have convinced the powers that be in North Adams that this is a good idea. And maybe even a necessity to protect the water supply. This is completely unnecessary, and in my mind pretty destructive of the environment. Plus who is paying for it? Looks like some of it may be a bunch of public money for Mass Audubon and New England Forestry Foundation for their staff to get paid to do this. (Glad I don't donate to either of them.)

We had a situation in Wendell where I live. The state was planning a big logging job in Wendell State Forest. When we caught wind of it, we did everything we could think of to stop it. We had standouts on Route 2 in Erving. We had a petition signed by over a thousand people that we brought to the Governor's Office in Boston. We filed a lawsuit in court.

And while all else was failing, we protested at the site, some people even standing in front of logging trucks, getting arrested, going to jail and going to court on trespass charges.

We did our best as dozens of us from around Franklin County, to try to prevent the logging trucks from destroying our forest.

Now I am wondering if there will be similar protests in North Adams against the logging. I hope that people in North Adams will have better luck than we did. For us, it was the state (that means all of us) who own the land. For North Adams, it's the city. That means the people of North Adams. I hope you all make sure you have a say. A bigger say than Mass Audubon. Or New England Forestry Foundation and the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership. Or a couple of people in the mayor's office.

Gloria Kegeles
Wendell, Mass.

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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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