Letter: Retired Police Chief Backs Macksey for Mayor

To the Editor:

To the residents of North Adams: It is with great pleasure that I may provide you with an honest and heartfelt letter in support of, who I feel, is the most qualified candidate for mayor of the City of North Adams. I have the privilege of knowing Jennifer Macksey both on a professional and personal basis. I have had the honor of serving this great city for over 32 years. I have seen its ups and downs, good and bad, positive and negative, trials and tribulations of the city I call home. However, through all of this, we always hold our heads high and continue to do what’s best for our city, its residents, and the communities around us.

Having known Jennifer for nearly 25 years, she has the integrity, intelligence, and strong municipal knowledge to "hit the ground running" on Jan. 1, 2022. I know Jennifer has a deep love and understanding of our city. Her passion and caring for our senior citizens, the hard working men and women of our community, and one of the most important assets of this city, our children and their education and well being.

We know there are some significant issues within this city, our crumbling infrastructure, failing water and sewer lines, roads, sidewalks, fire hydrants, public safety building, etc. Yes, there has been some improvements made to these issues, however, there is much more that needs to be done. We all know that this type of comprehensive work can be costly. But, if we start now, put a plan together and execute it, we will begin to make progress. Of course, this will take to few years to complete, nothing happens overnight. However, I know that Jennifer is person that can find the funding, coordinate, and execute a significant infrastructure improvement plan.

I believe public safety and our schools are the backbone of this city. I know Jennifer has the ability, trust, understanding and communication skills, to be sure that these important issues are always being improved, funded appropriately, and maintained to the highest standards possible.

Having worked with Jennifer, I have found her to have the ability to communicate and work very well with others. She listens to people, understands, and shows great empathy. She is a strong, no nonsense woman, yet, kind and understanding. In my opinion, her honesty, integrity, transparency, and love for this city is unquestionable.
Please go out and vote for Jennifer Macksey for mayor on Nov. 2, 2021.

Michael Cozzaglio
North Adams, Mass. 

Michael Cozzaglio is the retired police chief of North Adams.

North Adams Takes Possession of Historic Church Street Houses

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:30PM / Tuesday, April 22, 2025

The porch collapsed on 116 Church several years ago. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The state Land Court in February finalized the city's tax taking of four properties including the brick Church Street mansions.

 

The prestigious pair of Queen Anne mansions had been owned by Franklin E. Perras Jr., who died in 2017 at age 79. 

 

The properties had been in court for four years as attempts were made repeatedly to find Perras' heirs, including a son, Christopher. According to court filings, Christopher reportedly died in 2013 but his place of death is unknown, as is the location (or existence) of two grandchildren listed in Perras' obituary. 

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey said the next steps will be to develop requests for proposals for the properties to sell them off. 

 

She credited Governor's Councillor Tara Jacobs for bringing the lingering tax takings to the Land Court's attention. Jacobs said she'd asked about the status of the properties and a few days later they were signed off. 

 

It wasn't just the four North Adams properties — the cases for three Perras holdings in Lanesborough that also had been in the court for years were closed, including Keeler Island. Another property on Holmes Road in Hinsdale is still in the court.  

 

The buildings at 116, 124 and 130 Church St., and a vacant lot on Arnold Place had been in tax title since 2017 when the city placed $12,000 in liens.