NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council on Tuesday bid goodbye to one longtime employee and welcomed her replacement.
Assistant City Clerk Nancy Canales, who retired last week after nearly 19 years with the city, was presented with framed and personalized map of historic North Adams by the City Council.
"It's to thank you for all your years of service," said President Benjamin Lamb as her family watched from the gallery in council chambers, including her husband, George, former McCann Tech coach, and her son Michael, the city's administrative officer.
City Clerk Marilyn Gomeau read a tearful tribute to her co-worker and good friend.
"Nancy and I began working in the clerk's office 18 1/2 years ago and she served the City Council for 13 years," she said. "I know they appreciate all your dedication and hard work. We will truly miss you."
Canales always had a smile for citizens coming into the office, said Gomeau, and a way of getting her to see things differently.
"Nancy, you've always been an inspiration to me in many ways ... you will always be the angel on my shoulder telling me, 'let's think about it,'" she said.
Canales later joked she'd left a couple things behind, such as her coffee mug, as an excuse to stop by. She also plans to continue helping out with elections.
Gomeau swore in Deborah Pedercini as the new assistant city clerk. Pedercini has spent the past few weeks working with Canales to learn her new role.
The City Council also on Tuesday authorized Mayor Richard Alcombright to enter into an easement to the Greylock Works parking lot as part of the private venture's receipt of a competitive $2,176,341 MassWorks grant.
In answering questions, the mayor said the city worked with the owners of the Greylock Mill to develop the grant application and the easement would provide the "public good" necessary for its submission. The funds will pay for the long neglected back parking lot to be restructured, paved and landscaped.
The landscaping will include pathways to the Alcombright Athletic Complex's northernmost parking lot, which abuts the mill property, and will allow users of the field to park in that back parking area. The lease is for 10 years and the city will not be obligated to maintain the mill parking or landscaping.
The former textile mill is undergoing a multi-year, $15 million makeover that will include event space, artisanal food production, a restaurant, hospitality functions and condominiums.
In other business,
• The council approved the reappointments of Shaun Dougherty to the Airport Commission for a term to expire Feb. 2, 2020; Gail Sellers to the MassMoCA Commission for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2020; and Allyson Holmes and Paul Senecal to the Planning Board with terms to expire on Feb. 2 and Feb. 1, 2020, respectively.
• Passed to a final reading changes in the compensation plans for firefighters and part-time workers.
• Councilor Keith Bona reminded everyone to continue to tell the Small Business Revolution why the love #MyNorthAdams on Facebook. Don't forget the hashtag.
"She did run back and forth many, many times between here and Boston at her own expense," said the mayor. "You did a great job representing the city of North Adams. You made the commitment and you really did a great job."
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Clarksburg Offers Town Administrator Post to Boucher
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday voted to offer the position of town administrator to Ronald Boucher, pending contract negotiations.
"I think Ron's the best option, the safest option to move forward," said board member Colton Andrews.
Boucher is a former Select Board chair, town moderator and Finance Committee member and current member of the Planning Board. He's currently a regional sales manager for global EcoLab. He was notified during the meeting and agreed to meet with the board on his contract Friday morning.
Should he accept the post, he will replace Carl McKinney; the board declined to renew his contract and his final day is Friday.
Boucher was one of three candidates interviewed for the post; the others were Bryana Malloy, manager of industry relations manager for MassHire, and Kenneth Ward, Williamstown's information technology director.
The board members agreed that Malloy, who unsuccessfully ran for the Select Board in June, and Boucher were their preferred candidates.
Chair Robert Norcross gave a strong case for Malloy, citing her experience in applying for and administering grants.
Jesse Saylor of TSKP Studio, the school project designer, said the conductivity of the soils were comparable or better than three recent school completed in Connecticut.
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