Updated Numbers in Greylock School Vote

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The unofficial numbers for the school project debt exclusion vote have ticked up just a tad.  
 
They now stand at 1,450 yes to 1,315 no, a difference of 135 votes. 
 
A handful of provisional ballots are still to be confirmed but not enough to make any difference in the results. 
 
The turnout was 2,766 of the city's 9,872 registered voters, or 28 percent. City Clerk Tina Marie Leonesio said she was very happy with the numbers, noting the primaries lackluster showing of 12 percent. 
 
Unofficial Results
  YES NO BLANKS TOTAL VOTERS PERCENT
WARD 1 280 336 0 616 2,040 30.20
WARD 2 269 243   513 2,045 25.09
WARD 3 217 187 0 404 1,664 24.28
WARD 4 406 298 0 704 2,107 33.41
WARD 5 278 251 0 529 2,016 26.24
  1,450 1,315 1 2,766 9,872 28.03
The narrow vote hearkens to a similar contentious debate back in 2013 over borrowing for the $30 million Colegrove Park school project. That passed by only 137 votes with 2,645 ballots cast. 
 
This week's vote saw 98 voters coming in to the clerk's office for early voting, compared to 11 in last month's primary. Leonesio said 1,540 ballots were mailed by request with a return of about 69 percent. 
 
There had been questions about signatures and inactive voters. The clerk said some ballots were returned without signatures on the outside envelope, less than one percent, and efforts were made to have these confirmed but some voters did not respond. 
 
Those who did not submit their city census forms so were removed to the "inactive" list in June. They were able to vote Tuesday by confirming their identity at the polls. That table had been quite busy and more staffing is expected for the coming general election. 
 
iBerkshires committed an error in updating on the election by referring to a "recount." This was incorrect and the problem was actually a tape calculator that was acting up, causing the number to be off. Another calculator was put into service and the numbers matched up. iBerkshires regrets the error. 
 
A few "no" voters referenced "irregularities" but Lenoesio said there was nothing out of the ordinary.  
 
The polls were busy and staff were aware of importance of the outcome. 
 
"We were double-checking, triple-checking, ensuring the process was what it needed to be," she said. "The integrity of the election is what matters to us."
 
Voters are encouraged to double-check their registration status online at the secretary of state's website or by contacting the city clerk's office prior to the general election. 
 

Tags: brayton/greylock project,   debt exclusion,   

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North Adams Christmas Trees Installed for 2024

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The two downtown Christmas trees were delivered and set up Monday, kicking off the holiday season in the city.
 
"It will take me from now until the tree lighting to decorate it," Wire and Alarm Inspector Mitchell Meranti said.
 
Meranti did not know the exact size of the two trees but noted the tree closest to the monument was difficult to size.
 
"This is probably the most challenging one that I have done," he said. "It started out a 50-footer and we had to cut it down at the site and here more. So it is a lot of work."
 
The crew must leave enough trunk exposed to place the tree in the 29-inch pit located in front of the Civil War monument.
 
After the tree is placed, Meranti said they have to square it up and secure it with cables. Then it is time to decorate.
 
Although a lot of work, he said the tree placement is always a bright spot in the year for the Department of Public Works.
 
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