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

11:45AM / Tuesday, June 10, 2025Print Story | Email Story

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.

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

RIBCO Supply

Check out our great lineup of Boss Plows, and spreaders. 2 Locations Clarksburg & Pittsfield!

ribcosupply.com

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Veteran Spotlight: Marine Corp. Tim Woodward

By Wayne SoaresSpecial to iBerkshires
05:17PM / Sunday, February 15, 2026

FALMOUTH, Mass. — Tim Woodward served his country in the Marine Corps as a corporal from 1983 to 1987.

Having grown up with Tim, you knew he was the type of person who would succeed at whatever he attempted. His drive and discipline set him apart from his peers, even at a young age. He would have four college acceptances after graduating from Falmouth High School, but put them on hold to enlist in the Marines, where he did his basic training at Parris Island, S.C.

"It was definitely an eye opener," he said. "I had some pretty good preparation as my father and uncle were Marines. It was a lot of work, more mental than physical, and a lot of people weren't prepared for that.

"I wasn't fearful. It was about earning the title of U.S Marines. I'm proud of the fact that I was selected for just about every leadership position in my platoon, including Honor Man. I had a great time."

Woodward's first assignment would take him to the former Naval Air Station Memphis in Tennessee for aviation electronics training through a rolling admissions program.

"Made it all the way through — I was pretty good at troubleshooting. I always wanted to fly jets but ended up working on them," he said. "After schooling, I was sent to Whidbey Island, north of Tacoma and Seattle, Wash., where I was attached to Navy Squadron VAQ-129, where I learned to test the electronics on the Grumman EA 6B Prowler.

"I also did five months with VAQ-29. I remember when you drove into the base the sign overhead said, 'EXCUSE OUR NOISE, IT'S THE SOUND OF FREEDOM,'" Woodward said. "I had a chance to climb on the jets, wash them like your car, walk on the wings — lots of good memories."

View Full Story