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North Adams Committee Advises Splitting Short-Term Rental Measure

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The General Government Committee is recommending that the short-term rental ordinance be split so that registration, regulations, fees and enforcement fall under the Building Code and the definitions and restrictions in location under the Zoning Ordinances. 
 
The vote was on the advice of the city solicitor and Administrative Officer Katherine Eade, who sectioned off the ordinance. 
 
"She did an excellent job and she did a very short amount of time with one back to city solicitor again who said no, this is about as good as it gets," said Wilkinson. "It's a very good starting point. In fact, this may be something that other towns or cities may want to look at."
 
The reason for splitting up the sections was to ensure that there would be no attempts to argue that already established short-term rentals should be grandfathered in.
 
The committee had met on Jan. 18 and reviewed some minor changes on the ordinance and waited until the clean version was presented on Tuesday. 
 
Zoning was established a looking forward code, in that existing structures would not be forced to close or change their use. Only after that use had expired for a period of time would the new zoning be enforced. 
 
Officials hope this brings a close to years of discussion and debate over implementing regulations on so-called AirBnBs. North Adams, like other communities, had been looking to the state to set standards but the Legislature imposed taxes but no rules. 
 
Building Inspector William Meranti joked it was the 23rd version when asked. 
 
This final language had been hammered out by Meranti, Mayor Jennifer Macksey and other members of here administration after STR owners objected to what they felt was a too burdensome version put in front of the Planning Board. 
 
It had a joint hearing by the Planning Board and City Council and passed to a second reading by the council at its last meeting in December. 
 
The solicitor is of the opinion that the measure does not have to go back before the Planning Board because the zoning portion has already been approved. 
 
Council President Lisa Blackmer, who attended the meeting, recommended that both sections be presented as new.
 
"I would just start over to make a cleaner and both of them have a second reading and published as required by law because we haven't published it yet," she said. 
 
The vote was unanimous. 
 
 
 

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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. 
 
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