NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city is no longer required to submit annual reports to the U.S. Department of Justice on its efforts to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Since reaching an agreement with the DOJ, North Adams has spent $1,259,598.95 toward projects that bring it into compliance with the federal law and is now considered to have completed 85 percent of the outlined project.s
"When I first got the report there were more than 300 things that we needed to deal with in the city in respect to ADA compliance," Mayor Richard Alcombright told the City Council on Tuesday. "It seemed quite daunting and [Administrative Officer Michael Canales] has taken this program, he's owned it, and as I've said, we are no longer under the reporting requirement."
He credited Canales, Building Inspector William Meranti and other city personnel for their work in meeting the federal government's requirements.
The city reached the agreement in 2012 with the federal agency under Project Civic Access, the department's initiative to ensure compliance of the ADA that prompts the DOJ to survey state and local government facilities, services and programs nationwide. The audit occurred the year before, sparked by a complaint related to the Police Station.
Four annual reports have been submitted since then outlining projects including public bathroom renovation and construction, accessible pathways, sidewalks, switches and signage, ramps, elevator controls, playgrounds, counters and entrances. Personnel have also been to training presentations presented by the state Office of Disability and the Western Regionl Homeland Security Advisory Council.
Some of the items on the list have been renovations or replacements, others were constructed with the ADA compliance in mind.
"Every time that we've now taken on a [project] whether it's playgrounds, whether it's buildings, bathrooms, whatever, we're conscious of making sure these facilities are being brought up to code and we're meeting the ADA compliance," Canales said. "We don't want to have this list build up again."
Nearly $350,000 of the capital and grant funding spent was on bathrooms, many at the city's parks. Another $200,000 or so was on making sidewalks and curb ramps handicapped accessible. Funding from a Complete Streets grant was used to evaluate all the sidewalks to identify those that needed to be updated.
"Instead of being surprised by a list, we will already have a list showing that we've identified internally things we need to stay on top of," he said.
Canales said he expects to complete the next phases of sidewalk work — about $220,000 — using state Chapter 90 road money over the next few cycles. The city has also applied for a grant through the state Commission on Disabilities to make the city's website accessible.
But there's still no answer for the biggest project on the list, and the one that started it all. The 60-year-old public safety building has issues far beyond ADA compliance, but for the Department of Justice, that's the main focus.
"In order to just meet the ADA compliance we would have to spend $2.1 million and it would decrease the functionality of the space specifically as a police department," Canales said of the results of a recent ADA study. "We would have to take out cells to increase hallways."
The city is going to do a full feasibility study to address both the ADA and functionality.
"We'll continue to move forward and try to keep the city as best we can compliant, but one big one, we still don't have a full answer at this point to address it," he said.
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North Adams Council Sets School Debt Exclusion Vote
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
Council President Bryan Sapienza holds up an application to work as a poll worker for the upcoming elections. The form can be found under 'Becoming an election worker' under city clerk on the city website or in the city clerk's office.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council gave final approval on Tuesday for the mayor to borrow $65,362,859 for a new Greylock School to serve Grades prekindergarten through 2.
This final adoption paves the way for two community forums and a debt exclusion vote scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Elizabeth's Parish Center. Passage of the debt exclusion vote will allow the city to raise funds beyond its levy limit for the life of the loan.
City Clerk Tina Marie Leonesio said the city has about 1,400 requests for mail-in ballots for all elections and that in-person early voting will start the Saturday before.
The first forum is Thursday, Aug. 15, at 6 p.m. at Greylock; officials will provide an overview of the project and tours of the school. Zoom participation is available here. Northern Berkshire Community Television will also record the forums for later broadcast.
The second forum is Thursday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m. at Brayton Elementary School. The Zoom link is the same and those attending in person can also take a tour of the building.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority will pick up about $41,557,218 of the cost, the city about $20 million and the $3 million balance is expected to come from federal energy grants. The 30-year tiered loan for $20 million is expected to have its highest impact in 2029 when it will add $270 to the average tax bill, or about $22.50 a month.
This final adoption paves the way for two community forums and a debt exclusion vote scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Elizabeth's Parish Center.
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This year, the family took on a new challenge, purchasing the historic West End Market building at 437 West Main St. and opening the city's first vegan restaurant, Wish Tree.
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The school received a $64,000 Feigenbaum Foundation grant a couple years ago, but because of supply and shipping delays from the pandemic, the equipment was not delivered until this past winter. click for more
Nearly a dozen residents attended Monday's Conservation Commission meeting to express opposition to a forest management plan that will include logging and the use of herbicides near Notch Reservoir. click for more