North Adams Council Reappoints City Clerk
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council on Tuesday unanimously reappointed City Clerk Tina Leonesio for a three-year term to end in January 2028.
Council President Bryan Sapienza recommended her reappointment.
"I would not make this recommendation if I had not had full confidence in Clerk Leonesio," he said. "It's been a pleasure working with you over the past year as president of the council."
She was immediately sworn in by Assistant Clerk Melissa Kilbride.
Leonesio brought calm to an office that had had a rotating roster of clerks since 2019. Promoted from assistant to city clerk in May 2023, she was the fourth clerk in less than 18 months and the fifth since the retirement of Marilyn Gomeau, who was clerk for more than15 years.
"I just want to thank Clerk Leonesio for the work that she's done," said Councilor Lisa Blackmer, who motioned to reappoint her. "She stepped in, stepped up. ... I appreciate the work that she's done."
She noted that Leonesio has successfully navigated some contentious elections, worked with the mayor's office to develop a budget and hired staff, and kept the council on track with minutes and agendas.
The council also voted to change the time of the next council meeting to 11 a.m., since the day is Christmas Eve.
The recommendation came from Sapienza who noted City Hall will be closed and not available for use.
Blackmer said she would be out of town that day and likely other councilors might be otherwise engaged. She suggested anyone who couldn't make the meeting apprise Sapienza or the city clerk to determine if there would be a quorum.
In other business, the council confirmed the reappointments of Gregory Betti and Patricia Wol to the Board of Assessors with terms to expire Dec. 31, 2027; Elena Sprague and Mary Scanlon to Commission on Disabilities with terms to expire Dec. 1, 2027; and Vane Jacobs to the Youth Commission for a term to expire Dec. 1, 2027.
Councilor Peter Oleskiewicz asked if the Youth Commission was active and expressed concerns voiced previously by Councilor Keith Bona about members aging out.
"I'm just curious if this has taken off yet," he said.
Councilor Deanna Morrow said the commission has held a few meetings (one was scheduled for Thursday evening) but she was aware that some members had moved on.
Councilor Andrew Fitch said he was glad Oleskiewicz had brought it up.
"It's always bugged me a little bit that we don't know much about this people we're appointing like whether or not they've been active or the group itself has been active," he said. "I would like a little more information about each of them if we can, moving forward."
The council also set public hearings for National Grid for work on underground facilities at Ashland and Summer Street and for new poles on East Main Street and Ashland Street to the second meeting in January.
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