image description — The Public Safety Committee will recommend the city hire a new commissioner.

North Adams Public Safety Committee Votes For Commissioner

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
12:01AM / Friday, February 17, 2012Print Story | Email Story

Mayor Richard Alcombright has been pushing for the simple solution of replacing the commissioner instead of reorganizing both the fire and police departments.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Public Safety Committee is recommending that the city stays with its current management model.

The committee unanimously approved on Thursday the simple replacement of Public Safety Commission E. John Morocco, who is retiring in June, after multiple discussions about a possible switch to two chiefs. The commissioner model, which only four municipalities in the state uses, is expected to cost $50,000 less than a two-chief system.

"If I had a choice of where to spend my money, I'd rather not spend it on management," Lisa Blackmer, committee chairman, said. "I'd rather have more boots on the ground."

The commissioner model was first introduced to the city as a cost-saving measure under former mayor Richard Lamb in the 1980s. The position handles such things as budgeting, sets policy, reporting to the mayor and grant writing for the fire, police, wire and alarm, building and health departments. Those responsibilities would be handled by the two chiefs and a lower level of management would need to be created in each department.

Alcombright said not only will it cost less but reduce the number of reports filed and avoid developing that new middle management level. The committee continued to advocate for more patrol officers, and the mayor said this option would save costs in an effort to hire more.

"With the new leadership, the staffing may change," committee member Jennifer Breen Kirsch said, adding that the committee should not be micromanaging the departments but focus on getting a strong leader. "Mayor Lamb had a great idea and we should stay with it."

If the City Council approves the move, Alcombright said he will immediately start advertising the job all over the Northeast in hopes to have a new commissioner by April. There is enough time to make that appointment but if it actually happens on time will depend on the pool of candidates. Alcombright said he will be holding out for a candidate that "really gets" how the departments operate.

"This next appointment for commissioner is one of the most important appointments I will ever make," Alcombright said. "I will find the best possible public safety commissioner."

He estimates the position to start at $80,000.

Tags: public safety, public safety commissioner,

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Here we go again Starting at 80 K what is the top rate 100K ? I would have loved to be a fly on the wall with Councilor Breen and Blackmer both together last night,Blackmer must go
from: N.A. Voter	on: 02-17-2012 07:03AM I Agree (24) - I Disagree (3)

I am very pleased to see that we will continue to work with a Police Commissioner. I believe this system has proved effective for North Adams and should continue. Thanks to the Public Safety Committee for their support. I look forward to having the City Council also approve this recommendation.
from: Old timer	on: 02-17-2012 07:43AM I Agree (5) - I Disagree (21)

$80,000 dollars . Didn't the mayo read the Financil Management Peview ??? It did say we are the NINTH POOREST and SMALLEST in the STATE. Why does the mayor keep spending and giving away money like we are the RICHEST.
from: Poor	on: 02-17-2012 09:02AM I Agree (30) - I Disagree (4)

To me it's very strange that the Mayor is going to wait for Council approval-the Commish system is in place---the Council doesn't have to approve anything--the Mayor can start advertising today---or if he is thinking about an in-house appointment-- just post the job in City Hall--why fiddle and diddle?
from: chbpod	on: 02-17-2012 09:34AM I Agree (6) - I Disagree (1)
Editor: I think he is going to post. The issue was whether the city should abandon the structure and rewrite the ordinance. I expect the council will just accept the recommendation, unless a majority say no? Nah, that won't happen.
I Agree (3) - I Disagree (0)

This is certainly one of the worst decisions North Adams has made in recent years. Right now if the position was to stay in-house, itï¿½s believable the strongest candidates presently would be the Directors of the Police & Fire Departments. If the Fire Director was promoted to Commissioner, what law enforcement, health department, wiring department, etc. training & experience does he have? What fire service training does the Police Director presently hold? The answer is none! That alone creates a dangerous environment in North Adams Only four communities in the Commonwealth utilize this system and itï¿½s obvious the Council foolishly dismissed that glaring divide. Did it ever once occur to the Council that if the Commissioner structure in public safety was such a fantastic idea, this would the model in Massachusetts, not the other extreme? Councilor Breen Kirsch stated Mayor Lamb had a great idea in the 1980ï¿½s. Well, 30 years later, our great idea is nothing more than a marvelous failure as evidenced by the overwhelming majority of the Commonwealthï¿½s cities & towns who refuse to participate in such an imprudent system. Congratulations North Adams on living in the past and squandering a perfect opportunity to make a well needed change to our public safety structure.
from: Only Four	on: 02-17-2012 10:20AM I Agree (28) - I Disagree (5)

Not much imput from police or firemen ?? Perhaps a friend and member will be appointed ?? Sometimes silence speaks volumes.
from: strange	on: 02-17-2012 11:11AM I Agree (9) - I Disagree (2)

Again, what's all the fuss about the recommendation of either the public Safety Committee or even the full City Council for the retention of the Public Safety Commissioner position in North Adams? It doesn't legally matter what any of them think. Reporters for the local media, iberkshires included, should spend a few minutes reviewing the various charters for Massachusetts municipal government. North Adams has a Plan A, or "strong Mayor" charter. Under a Plan A charter the City Council has no legal authority whatsoever concerning any executive decision (hiring, firing, and so on). If it's an unpopular decision, as this one is among the rank and file of the Fire and Police Departments because of the way it short-circuits the Civil Servie pipeline, Mayor Alcombright only acts as if the subcommittee's vote matters so he can pretend others are involved and thus soften the political fall-out. Hey, it must be alright. The committee said he could do it, right? For example, it matters what the City Council in Pittsfield thinks about these things, because Pittsfield has a "Plan B", or "weak Mayor" charter. Pittsfield's City Council has real, legal executive authority. In North Adams, it doesn't matter what the City Council thinks about these things. Its opinion is only that, an opinion. The North Adams City Council has no authority whatsoever beyond a simple up or down, yes or no vote on the annual budget, the transfer of warrant article funds, the granting of taxi licenses, and the placement of telphone poles and various other zoning issues. That's it. When the local media erroneously and incompletely reports on these committees, and the entire City Council, as if its decisions in any other areas do carry official authority, it allows the mayor to successfully play a political game. Back in the day, the media would never give JBIII this much elbow room. And, much to his credit, he never sought it out. He didn't look for anyone's apron strings to hide behind when tough calls were needed. He wasn't afraid to stand by his decisions.
from: what's the fuss?	on: 02-17-2012 12:19PM I Agree (31) - I Disagree (2)

Every Commissioner has come from wither Fire or Police (one was not in-house) and it has worked fine for 30 years-- the Directors have the day to day stuff---but I think that once the Fire Director was promoted from the Police Department---and any statement that NA is behind the times because most Cities and Towns do not have a Commishioner system is plain stupid----the other communities have not caught up to NA-----what I said earlier is why is the Mayor sitting on his hands--he should start his search today-- it doesn't need Council approval--he seems to be always a dollar short and a day late
from: chbpod	on: 02-17-2012 02:00PM I Agree (4) - I Disagree (23)

Trust me, no fuss, if you really think the Pittsfield mayoral system is great, you should try living there. I grew up in Pittsfield, and the weak mayor form of government has been disastrous. You have 11 people who think they're the mayor and all have their own agendas. It just doesn't work in a community like Pittsfield... or North Adams. The strong mayor form is better by far. While Mayor Barrett kept a tight reign on everything and pretty much shut the council out (how ironic he's a councilor now and is demanding to be heard), Mayor Alcombright has a much looser style and much more open. It's a matter of style, but at least in North Adams the mayor has the option to go with whatever style he chooses and whatever relationship he wants with the council.
from: Fussy	on: 02-17-2012 02:07PM I Agree (2) - I Disagree (0)

chbid You stated that other cities need to catch up to North Adams . OK We are ninth from the bottom. It seems that 352 cities are already ahead. So I assume that you are talking about the 8 that are still behind ??? I wonder why the mayor city council and you seem to be proud of that fact ??
from: What	on: 02-17-2012 02:43PM I Agree (26) - I Disagree (1)
Editor: He's talking about management structure. Please read carefully before responding.
I Agree (3) - I Disagree (10)

Editor That is my point. The whole city has a MANAGEMENT STRUCTOR problem. Isn't that why we are ninth from the bottom ???
from: What	on: 02-17-2012 03:13PM I Agree (14) - I Disagree (3)
Editor: No, it's because we have lots of poor people living here.
I Agree (8) - I Disagree (9)

CHBPOD, It's hilarious to read that anyone wouldn't consider North Adams behind the times by keeping this foolish position in a community that barely has 14,000 residents. I am quite confident however CHBPOD that you would also support the maintenance and operation of our fire department pull boxes that decorate our telephone poles. A technology that is so archaic, Williamstown ridded themselves of these prehistoric boxes in the 1980's after a professional study was conducted and found they are no longer a practical way to communicate with the Fire Department due to the advances of technology such as the home telephone & pay phones! (Yes, a study from the 1980's!!) In 2012, 30+ years later, we in North Adams still utilize this system, a practice which was considered outdated in the 1980's, yet people here attempt to argue that North Adams is an example for the rest of the state to follow?!?!? We have a full-time Fire Department that wouldn't be full-time if we got rid of fire boxes due to the amount of runs they receive from pranks. However, our fire department still sits in the station while residents suffer serious medical emergencies despite every full-time police & fire department in the state who routinely handle medical calls. I guess the Williamstown & Adams Police along with the Pittsfield Fire Department and every other Police & Fire Department in Massachusetts must have this one wrong too!! (I doubt it, no one in the public safety community in Massachusetts is taking pointers from N.A. on this one either) It's fitting that North Adams hosts a large & popular museum. With this decisions to keep the Commissioners position, we have moved one step closer to making the actual community a living museum! I'm surprised the proponents of this actually have a computer to discuss their feelings, I would think they would be using their rotary dial telephones to call the rest of their supporters!!
from: NA is an example of what NOT to do	on: 02-17-2012 03:57PM I Agree (30) - I Disagree (1)
Editor: They're trying to get rid of those pullboxes.
I Agree (9) - I Disagree (0)

Editor: Thank you for the info, I was unaware this was being discussed. It's unfortunate that it took North Adams so long to reach this point, however, we are certainly moving in the right direction on this point. Now hopefully we can replace those calls for service with NAFD emergency medical responses which will only benefit our residents and visitors. At a minimum, it will undoubtedly justify a full-time fire department (which I 100% support) in a community that is surrounded by 100% volunteer fire departments with populations and infrastructure that are almost identical.
from: NA is an example of what NOT to do	on: 02-17-2012 06:05PM I Agree (22) - I Disagree (1)
Editor: The problem is, always, the cost. But I think they've been holding off until they determined who was in charge of public safety - that person will determine the hows and the whens.
I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

To anyone who disagrees that NAFD should not handle medical calls, can you simply explain your reasoning to me. In every city & town in Massachusetts that employs either a full time police or fire department, these agencies respond as first responders to medical calls. This is the case in Williamstown & Adams where the Police Departments handle serious medical calls ie: cardiac arrest, strokes, etc. Also, both these departments have been recognized publicly in the past for saving lives (use of AED's during heart attacks for example) where they have arrived before the ambulance. In Pittsfield, the Fire Department responds to all medical calls to provide life saving pre-hospital care. There are many times throughout the year where this problem is North Adams is magnified when N.A.A.S. must depend on mutual aid from a surrounding community due to having all ambulances committed to other calls. I am simply interested how anyone would believe when someone is in a life threatening situation, it's okay to have the Fire Department sitting in their station not providing any assistance. This is purely negligent. The times have changed, and fire calls due to advancements in fire suppression systems, fire codes, etc. have (thankfully) reduced the number of fires that communities experience every year. Additionally, with the advancement of fire fighting gear & equipment, many fires can be suppressed quickly before they grow into a more serious situation. Because of this, the days of just putting out fires are over. Fire Departments must re-invent themselves or face extinction. As North Adams' population continues to dwindle, it won't be long before the NAFD is significantly reduced or completely disbanded to mirror Williamstown and Adams (a move which I do not support, keep the full-time department, however, it's long overdue for change)
from: NA is an example of what NOT to do	on: 02-17-2012 08:41PM I Agree (22) - I Disagree (3)

Editor, I am flabergasted you would say the reason North Adams is at the bottom of the socio-econmic scale in Massachusetts is because "alot of poor people live here"! Do you want to rethink that and restate the real reason?
from: dot com	on: 02-18-2012 12:25PM I Agree (5) - I Disagree (2)
Editor: What's the real reason?
I Agree (3) - I Disagree (1)

I think both the commentors and the reporter of this story need to go back and review how the commissioner position came about. Neither the Mayor nor the City Council decided on a commissioner. It was their recommendation, but we the voters made the decision in a special election. At the time, 2 commissioner positions were created. Public Safety & Public Works. So if the Mayor wanted to change back to chief positions, he would have to ask the voters to change the law.
from: Mike	on: 02-18-2012 09:37PM I Agree (4) - I Disagree (1)
Editor: Thank you. We had no idea there was a public vote.
I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I had no idea that the Commishioner set up was per a ballot question and a special election---I simply do not recall that---in any case the set up is by ordinance- passed in April 1981---and if the City wanted to restore the two chief system all it would take would be revisions to the ordinances--not a special election
from: chbpod	on: 02-19-2012 09:25AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (2)

Re Mike's comment that North Adams would have to have an election to revert back to the old 2-chief system: This is only true if the mayor chose to re-institute Civil Service qualified chiefs in both departments. The main reason for the original reorganization vote was the removal of the city's top public safety administrators from Civil Service. If the mayor wanted to, he could very easily and legally eliminate the director's position. No special election would be called for. The Mayor has decided to fill the position and it's his decision, and his decision alone, whether or not to do that.
from: not quite	on: 02-19-2012 10:05AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Mr. Billings Aka chbpod, maybe you should think about coming back home here in North Adams and help the city council out as we sure could use a new councilor after this weeks nonsense or even Mayor? 2-20-12 7:34 P.M.
from: just me	on: 02-20-2012 07:34PM I Agree (10) - I Disagree (2)

I am not in favor of the structure of a commissioner of Public Safety. Our city is too small currently for such a large structure of government. Should have put more police on the street. Anyway, doesn't really matter now. Also, I couldn't agree more with Just Me. CHBPOD aka the Devil's Advocate, was a good councilor. He would do a better job electronically than what were getting from the 6 we have right here in town. We need to vote out the old 6, keep the new 3,then add Mr. B. He could ask 5 of his friends to join him on the council. We could use modern technology and simulcast from Florida. It would be a great improvement.
from: City Resident	on: 02-21-2012 12:25PM I Agree (8) - I Disagree (5)

by far my favorite part of this comment section... not a soul read the part where the one commissioner role (instead of two positions) saves the city 50 grand... then you complain that you want the two positions bc the city is two small for the one and you don't have the money... I'm not sure if there is any helping NA, its citizens seem hell-bent on self destruction via complete ignorance and stubbornness
from: blessyourheart	on: 02-22-2012 11:01AM I Agree (8) - I Disagree (17)

We in fact read that insanely comical line from our elected officials stating this would save the "city" money (it's actually tough to write the word "city." This is a puny little town in Berkshire County.) If you eliminate the position, you can use the money anywhere you want, raises for the Directors, the hiring of a new police or firefighter, etc...To suggest eliminating a position would actually cost North Adams money is by far one of the wildest things I have heard in my entire life. This is simply propaganda to make people accept this foolish position.
from: NA is an example of what NOT to do	on: 02-23-2012 09:48PM I Agree (20) - I Disagree (4)

the choice is not to eliminate the position or not, the choice is whether or not to have one position or two... you know, two salaries, two benefit packages, two retirement packages. How can you not see how that saves money? you know what? don't reply, have the two and be out 50 grand. You should get what you ask for. North Adams is a city filled with intellectuals who know how to do everyone's job better than them. It should hold more forums where you all show up and tell your officials how it's done...All those years working on an assembly line at Sprague taught you how to run the world.
from: @ what not to do	on: 02-24-2012 09:13AM I Agree (4) - I Disagree (16)

LOL! It’s so funny listening to people who support this state their case! It’s this simple people; you presently have a Police & Fire Director. You change their title to Police Chief and Fire Chief (the position of Director is already NON-Civil Service) you then have some options with the eliminated Commissioners salary. You can 1. Divide it evenly to compensate the Director’s salaries for their new responsibilities (no extra cost to the City) 2. You can simply not use any of the Commissioners salary for wage increases to the Directors (No extra cost to the City, you actually save money here) 3. Use the Commissioners salary towards the hiring of a new Police or Fire Fighter (No extra cost to the City) 4. Use the Commissioners salary for the purchase of equipment for the Police & Fire Departments (No extra cost to the City)……So how again is eliminating the Commissioners position going to cost the city extra money??? Exactly
from: Do Not Drink the Kool-Aid	on: 02-24-2012 01:29PM I Agree (19) - I Disagree (4)

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