CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday awarded the contract for paving and drainage improvements on south Middle Road.
Rifenburg Construction Inc. of Troy, N.Y., had the winning bid of $1,142,420.
The other four bids were Clayton G. Davenport Trucking of Greenfield, $1,373,700; Palmer Paving of Brewster, N.Y., $1,193,983; Warner Bros. of Sunderland, $1,280,782.50; and J.H. Maxymillian Inc. of Pittsfield, $1,470,056.
The estimate for the project was $1,113,165. Bids were opened on June 15 for review.
The town received a $1 million MassWorks grant last fall to address resurfacing and drainage from the Four Corners south to the town line. A couple years ago, another MassWorks grant provided funding to redo Middle Road from River Road to Wood Road.
The work will cover 3,950 feet, or about three-quarters of a mile.
Bidding documents anticipated a start date near the end of July.
"Our highway superintendent is working with them on a timeline of when to get started on that, and we will let everyone know when we have future updates on that," said Chair Daniel Haskins.
The board on Monday also formally changed Amber Holland's title to assessor and town clerk. Holland was hired as town clerk in March, with the additional duties of assessor's clerk. The assessor has since left, and Holland will step into her place on the Board of Assessors and sworn in that night by Moderator Seth Alexander, who is also a Select Board member.
Also approved was changing the treasurer/tax collector position from hourly rate to salary. Haskins abstained from discussion and voting as his wife, Kelly Haskins, currently occupies the post.
In other business, the board approved cemetery lots to Deborah A. Calnan and to Tracy and Ronald T. Pierce.
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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."
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. click for more
That was the list of grievances that current and former tenants of the North Adams Housing Authority's high rise laid before the City Council on Tuesday.
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