image description — The governor's bill would 'tweak' the apportionment formula on the extra $100 million she's budgeting to provide more funding for small towns with less population.

Chapter 90 Bond Bill Could Bring $5.3M to Berkshire Communities

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
12:45PM / Friday, January 31, 2025Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshires could receive more than $5.3 million in additional state Chapter 90 road funds in a new bond bill.

Gov. Maura Healey filed the bill last Friday, authorizing the borrowing of $1.5 billion over the next five years for local transportation networks. The bill includes another $100 million in Chapter 90, a 50 percent increase.

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll on Saturday noted the total amount will be $300 million, the highest amount of Chapter 90 that's been proposed.

"That $100 million topper is going to have a slightly different formula that's really more focused on road miles," she said to applause at the Massachusetts Municipal Association's Connect 351 conference in Boston. "Right now, the formula looks at a whole lot of things, including population, and some of our smaller communities that have lots of roads, but maybe not as many people are kind of penalized in that formula.

"Don't worry, everybody's getting a lot of money within the formula. But there's a slight tweak on that top $100 million."

The governor's budget will use Fair Share surtax revenues to expand capital capacity, enabling $300 million in annual Chapter 90 funds, a 50 percent increase over the traditional $200 million.

The current formula for state aid considers local road mileage at 58.33 percent, population and employment at 20.83 percent each to calculate funding awards.

Adams, for example, has 55.84 miles of road with a population of 8,166 and employment is 1,712. Based on the total amount of funding approved for fiscal 2025, the town received $284,946. The bill filed by the governor would give the town another $185,513 for a total of $471,000, a 65 percent increase.

North Adams would see a 57 percent increase in funds for total of $649,273; Pittsfield, which regularly commands the most funding in the Berkshires because of its size, would get $652,000 for a total of nearly $2 million at the lowest percentage increase of 49.

The "tweaked" calculation would greatly benefit smaller towns, almost doubling their funding. Tiny Alford with its 17 miles and population of 486 would see its funding jump from $71,000 to $128,000 and New Ashford, with less than 11 miles, would go from $42,533 to $77,468.

The towns of Mount Washington, Sandisfield, Savoy and Windsor would see the highest percentage increase, at 84 percent. All told, they have 210 miles of road for a population of 2,625. Together, they average 12.5 residents per mile compared to Pittsfield's 224 residents per mile.

Even with these extra funds, towns are often strapped when it comes to road maintenance and repair — reconstructing a mile of road is upwards of $1 million nowadays.

But the administration is also seeking additional money for culverts, said Driscoll, "things that we know impact roadways and are hard to fund. Those Chapter 90 tend to go to the road, but not the culvert underneath."

Tags: Chapter 90,

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NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
03:33PM / Friday, October 16, 2026

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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