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

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.

McCann Recognizes Superintendent Award Recipient

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:32PM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Landon LeClair and Superintendent James Brosnan with Landon's parents Eric and Susan LeClair, who is a teacher at McCann. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Superintendent's Award has been presented to Landon LeClair, a senior in McCann Technical School's advanced manufacturing course. 

 

The presentation was made last Thursday by Superintendent Jame Brosnan after Principal Justin Kratz read from teachers' letters extolling LeClair's school work, leadership and dedication. 

 

"He's become somewhat legendary at the Fall State Leadership Conference for trying to be a leader at his dinner table, getting an entire plate of cookies for him and all his friends," read Kratz to chuckles from the School Committee. "Landon was always a dedicated student and a quiet leader who cared about mastering the content."

 

LeClair was also recognized for his participation on the school's golf team and for mentoring younger teammates. 

 

"Landon jumped in tutoring the student so thoroughly that the freshman was able to demonstrate proficiency on an assessment despite the missed class time for golf matches," read Kratz.

 

The principal noted that the school also received feedback from LeClair's co-op employer, who rated him with all fours.

 

"This week, we sent Landon to our other machine shop to help load and run parts in the CNC mill," his employer wrote to the school. LeClair was so competent the supervisor advised the central shop might not get him back.