NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council is accepting letters of interest to fill the seat being vacated by Councilor Alexa Macdonald.

 

Macdonald was elected in 2025 for the two-year term but is moving out of the area. Her resignation is effective on Sunday, Nov. 1. The person selected to replace her will serve out the final year of her term. 

 

"We are asking that individuals interested in filling the vacancy or being considered submit a letter of interest to the city clerk and myself, outlining the reasons for seeking the position, along with a current resume and any other additional information they feel relevant," said Council President Ashley Shade. "Previous experience in elected office is not required. The deadline for submitting letters of interest and supporting materials is Wednesday, Nov. 4th, at noon, which is also our deadline for submitting items to our agenda."

 

Communications should be sent ashade@northadams-ma.gov and City Clerk Tina Leonesio at tleonesio@northadams-ma.gov. If desired, candidates can email the entire council at citycouncil@northadams-ma.gov.

 

Shade made the announcement at Tuesday's council meeting, noting the process is outlined in the council's rules of order and aligned with the city charter. 

 

The candidates will be able to speak for themselves at the meeting of Nov. 10, when the council will vote on Macdonald's replacement. 

 

"All candidates will be nominated, and then we will have a vote," Shade said. "It'll be roll call, which is in our rules, and we will name the person that we're voting for by roll call, that's how the voting will happen."

 

Resident Richard Dassatti spoke at open forum to give his opinion that the council should seat the 10th person from the 2025 election. 

 

 "I think it's only logical. I don't know why have to go through this application process. The person who got the most votes that didn't make it should be the person that you put in place of the person that is resigning," he said. "It's only logical, and we're lucky to have a very good person that was in that spot."

 

He was referring to Virginia Riehl, who came in 10th with 1,296 votes. At the last two meetings, a Riehl supporter has urged the council to select her. 

 

Councilor Keith Bona defended the council's rules for filling vacant seats, saying things could change greatly in a year. One time, the 10th person was in jail when a seat opened up.

 

"Obviously it probably wouldn't have been a good candidate to bring in, even though they were the 10th. And they actually had decent numbers; they weren't that far behind," he said. "Sometimes you may have nine candidates that get 5,000 votes, and that 10th candidate might get 100 votes. Is that saying the people wanted that person, or is that saying the people didn't want that person?"

 

The 10th candidate has, in several recent instances, been the person filling the seat. 

 

Shade pointed out that she had put herself forward for a vacant seat in 2021 but not as the 10th candidate, and received several votes. (That year it was the 11th.) 

 

"There were some councilors that felt that I could be a good change and a good addition to the council, and the public agreed with that in the future," she said. "So I encourage everybody and anybody who is interested and qualified to apply. We want to hear from you because the more choices we have, the better our city is."

 

Endorsements for individual candidates must be received prior to Nov. 10 and only candidates will be permitted to address the council during the appointment proceedings. 

 

Macdonald said her goodbyes at council and Councilor Andrew Fitch, who had encouraged her to run last year, said he would miss her. 

 

"Thanks for everything that you've done," he said. "You've meant so much to me being right next to me here and being my friend, seeing us through this year."