Letter: Breen Has Right Experience for North Adams Council

Letter to the EditorPrint Story | Email Story

To the Editor:

Well, I just voted, and I gave my first vote for City Council to Pete Breen. Why, you ask?

No other new candidate has the experience and devotion and has been as generous with their time. Over the past 40 years, Pete has served on many boards and commissions. He has worked for a variety of employers including MCLA, where Pete was a facilitator and instructor for technology and curriculum development and assistant registrar. Pete took that experience over into the town of Adams, where he implemented the town's entire computer system, serving as the town's technology administrator. Pete then went farther south, where he was a member of the adjunct faculty at BCC for four years.

Shifting gears into education, Pete taught computer science at Hoosac Valley for 12 years, while also serving in the district office and as the pupil transportation officer.



After retiring from compensated work, Pete set his sights on volunteering in North Adams serving on the License Board Commission and serving as the North Adams representative for the Northern Berkshire Vocational School District, and finally, Pete's current passion, serving on the Hoosic River Revival Board.

That's why I gave my first vote to Pete Breen. And I hope that you do too.

David Willette
North Adams, Mass.

 

 


Tags: election 2023,   


If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Police Grant Raises Concerns for North Adams Council

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council postponed action on a federal policing grant until the city solicitor could weigh in on several clauses referring to federal investigations. 
 
A motion to accept the grant failed 4-2; a motion to postpone to the Oct. 13 meeting and refer to the solicitor passed unanimously. 
 
The fiscal 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant is in the amount of $14,231. Mayor Jennifer Macksey explained that this grant is for the construction of an evidence room — not for technology or equipment — but to meet "best practices for secure storage documentation and then long-term holding."
 
Police Chief Mark Bailey said anyone brought into the station is under constant video and audio surveillance and that the goal was to ensure a continuity of evidence from the time it is taken from a suspect until it appears in court. 
 
"This buildout is to actually make our current evidence room into something more efficient for us, and to make sure that we're following the the accreditation process," he said. 
 
The current evidence room is not big enough or secure enough internally for storage of evidence, including drugs and firearms, that might be kept for years as cases work their way through the court system. 
 
"My goal is to eventually get accredited with the state. In order to do that, we have to have certain parameters for our evidence room, not just cameras or locking mechanisms, but within the evidence room as well," the chief said. "So this buildout is to actually make our current evidence room into something more efficient for us, and to make sure that we're following the the accreditation process."
 
View Full Story

More North Adams Stories