NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — City Hall will be in a bit of disarray as a project to insulate the 1970s building with spray foam is completed. 

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey said at Tuesday's City Council meeting that the work will take approximately two weeks. 

 

"We received a grant through the Green Communities to do half of the building last year, and we're doing the other half between April 14 and Sept. 25," she said. "During this time, the second-floor offices will be either temporarily closed or relocated. Most of the staff will be operating remotely."

 

She expected minimal disruption on the first floor but the second floor will be inaccessible and no meetings will be held there.

 

"City Hall will remain open and operational, but visitors may notice some unusual odors on the first floor due to insulation materials," the mayor said. 

 

She also asked citizens to report potholes to the City Yard at 413-662-3157. 

 

"Currently, our road crews have been hauling material from West Sand Lake (N.Y.), which is about a three-hour round trip, which limits the amount of blacktop we can pick up each day," the mayor said. "The good news is that the Pittsfield supply center is expected to open around April 15. Once it does does, we'll be able to accelerate our repairs significantly. So we appreciate your patience."

 

Macksey also announced the retirement of Community Development Director Michael Nuvallie at the end of this fiscal year. She had previously announced the retirement of another longtime employee, City Treasurer Beverly Cooper. 

 

"We thank Mike for his 37 years of dedicated service to the city of North Adams. We know his countless contributions have been invaluable through the Community Community Development Office, and he will be greatly missed," said the mayor. "As we prepare for this transition, we are actually strategizing what our next steps are for that entire department, as well as filling the treasurer's role."

 

In other business during the brief meeting: 

 

• The council passed to a second reading and publication an amended traffic ordinance that will remove the "no turn  on red" sign at the east end of Center Street at Holden and remove references to "Artery Street," which no longer exists.  

 

• The proposed Animal Control Commission ordinance was postponed to first meeting in May and an ADU ordinance was referred to a joint public hearing with the Planning Board.

 

• Macksey informed the council that she had appointed Virginia Riehl to the Planning Board with a term to expire Feb. 1, 2030, and Anna Salmeron and Dawn Nelson to the Mass MoCA Commission with terms to expire Feb. 1, 2028.