North Adams Council Recognizes Special Olympian, OKs Account Transfers
Jenna Thomas has participated in the Special Olympics for more than 20 years, earning numerous medals.
"I think it's so appropriate as I'm about to proclaim Disabilities Pride Month that we recognize and honor Jenna," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey, who had Thomas join her at the podium."
Thomas was one of nearly 3,000 athletes who participated in the 2026 Special Olympics, which brought nearly 3,000 athletes from across the country to celebrate the talents, determinations, and achievements of individuals with intellectual disabilities. She won bronze as a member of the Berkshire County Arc Titans bowling team, a fourth in doubles with teammate Katherine Meunier and placed in the top 10 for singles nationally.
She's been participating in Special Olympics since her teenage years, competing in cross country skiing, track and field since 2009. Thomas switched to bowling in 2019 and has won gold; she was recognized by the mayor in 2023 for her athletic accomplishments representing Massachusetts and North Adams.
"Look at how beautiful that is — a bronze medal in bowling and placed fourth in the doubles competition, demonstrating her dedication, perseverance, and sportsmanship on the national stage," said the mayor. "She also got to meet the governor's partner, Joanna [Lydgate], who we went out with for ice cream. ...
"In returning home, she credited her participation to the friendships she's made and the joy of competing ... her accomplishments are a source of pride for the city of North Adams and should serve as an inspiration for the entire community."
The mayor also presented $730,741.06 in end-of-year transfers. These transfers are made from accounts with excess funds to accounts that have gone over. Every line with the exception of snow and ice must be balanced for the end of the year.
"I don't think we have any surprises. To me, it's business as usual. To some people, it's a huge number, and, oh my God, she doesn't know what she's doing, or if she's incompetent, but that's not the case," said the mayor. "We have a very good team that watches these numbers regularly. Stacy can probably recite them in their sleep."
Auditor Stacy Abuisi, who was attending, said, "last year was over a million dollars in transfers, so we did really good this year."
The transfers were from line accounts in City Hall departments, Public Safety, the library, and water and sewer to legal expenses, foreclosures, tourism, building and properties, streetlights, transfer station, veterans benefits, public services including highways, engineering, snow and ice, cemetery, Windsor Lake and parks and recreation.
Foreclosures and law expenses were more than $48,000 over, with the bulk of the legal for the airport, Sullivan School, and bond council fees.
The mayor noted that the city is being more aggressive on land takings "and our legal fees and processing fees and all those things have been going up, and had more volume, so that represents that shortage."
Other unanticipated costs included consultants, replacement of a Fire Department generator, building repairs, overtime and an additional cemetery worker, an emergency streetlight controller and light post repairs, and keeping seasonal workers on longer. Another $155,320 was to cover an increased cost of solar credits because more had been used in previous years.
"In the transfer station, we are looking to transfer in $84,008," she said. "Again, that is just an increase of cost of trash removal services in the Public Services Department."
In other business:
The mayor informed the council she had appointed Robin Martin and JoAnn Bates to the Council on Aging, filling the unexpired terms of Pat Flaherty ending Jan. 1, 2029, and the Rev. Mary Frances Curns ending Jan. 1, 2030, respectively; and Damon Grimes to the Animal Control Commission, for a term ending July 29, 2027.
Appointments currently vacant include one seat each on the Commission on Disabilities, Hoosac Water Quality District, Mobile Home Rent Control, Housing Authority, Planning Board, and Redevelopment Authority; two seats each on Conservation Commission, Human Services Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Retirement Board, Traffic Commission and Youth Commission; three on the Public Arts Commission; four on the IDEA Commission; five on the Tree Commission, and seven on the Fair Housing Commission.
Anyone interested in serving should contact the mayor's office.
The meeting was wrapped before 8 p.m. because of problems with City Hall's electrical infrastructure from Monday night's storm. National Grid turned off the power to City Hall, and power was out for a time on Main Street as well.
Tags: fiscal 2026, proclamation, Special Olympics,
