Letter: North Adams Public Hearing on the City Budget on June 10

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To the Editor:

North Adams should provide a meaningful and practical opportunity to engage citizens in a dialogue on the budget.

Traditionally the City Council Finance Committee conducts meetings at which there is a line-by-line review of the budget.

This year five meetings lasting 1.5 to 2.5 hours were held over a two-week period. These meetings meet the needs of the City Council members to take a deep dive into the budget. They do not meet the needs of most members of the public. It is challenging for most North Adams citizens to commit eight hours over a two-week period to attend these meetings.

This year a citizen's petition for a public hearing on the budget was submitted to the city in accordance with a state law that mandates that a city must conduct a public hearing if 10 registered voters submit a written request for a public hearing on the budget. In response to this petition the city has scheduled a public hearing on Tuesday June 10th at 6:00 p.m. at the North Adams City Hall. The mayor will provide an overview presentation on the budget and members of the public will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.

I urge North Adams residents who want their voices heard on the city budget to attend the public hearing. This will demonstrate the importance of providing a citizen-friendly forum for discussion of the budget and will open the door to making this forum an annual event.

Virginia Riehl
North Adams, Mass.

 

 

 

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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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