North Adams City Hall Getting Insulation

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
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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.

Tags: green communities,   potholes,   

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North Adams Housing Authority Director Steps Down

Staff Reports

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Jennifer Hohn, the longtime executive director of the North Adams Housing Authority (NAHA), has stepped down after 24 years with the agency.

The Berkshire Eagle reported that Hohn resigned from her position on Thursday. The NAHA Board of Commissioners is currently developing a transition plan.

Her resignation follows rising tension between Hohn and the tenants association. Residents—particularly at the Spring and Ashland Park apartments—have raised specific concerns regarding building security, drug activity, and trespassers.

This summer, Tenants Association President Corey Fortin posted a video on social media demonstrating that door alarms in some of the buildings were not functioning.

Shortly after the video was posted, the tenants association's office was locked. Members alleged Hohn locked the space in retaliation, while Hohn maintained it was a matter of tenant safety. Hohn also stated that NAHA does not officially recognize the association because it has yet to go through official channels for certification—a claim the tenants association disputes.

The dispute culminated in plans for a formal grievance hearing between Hohn and the association. Both sides agreed to hold a meeting on Oct. 3, but the hearing had not yet been scheduled at the time of her resignation.
During her tenure as director, Hohn oversaw significant changes at NAHA, including expansion and the dissolution of Housing Opportunities Incorporated, a program founded over 30 years ago to assist first-time homebuyers. Most recently, she led efforts to transition NAHA properties from traditional public housing models to the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. She also directed the rebuilding of a Greylock Valley Apartments building after it was severely damaged by a fire.

The NAHA Board of Commissioners meets monthly, typically on Mondays.

 

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