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.
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.
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North Adams Man Guilty of Murder
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A North Adams man was convicted Friday of murdering his wife, Charli Gould Cook, in 2019.
A Berkshire Superior Court jury found Michael Cook Sr., 47, guilty of murder in the second degree, assault and armed assault with intent to murder, and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury and assault and battery on a family or household member.
Cook had broken into the Chase Avenue home of his estranged wife on July 11, 2019. The 41-year-old woman was in her bed when Cook hit on the back side of her head with a hammer. The assault resulted in significant injury to her skull causing traumatic brain injury. Emergency personnel found her unresponsive when called to the home approximately 1 a.m. that morning.
She passed away approximately five months after the assault at Baystate Medical Center. The medical examiner ruled her cause of death as a direct result of the brain injury from the July 11th assault. Cook was arrested on assault charges and indicted in 2020 of murder. He had been detained without the right to bail since that time after being determined a danger to the community.
Charli Cook was a native of North Adams who attended McCann Technical School and had worked as a certified nursing assistant.
Sentencing will take place on Thursday, Oct. 10, at Berkshire Superior Court.
Mill Town Circus's bright yellow and blue tent went up this week at Noel Field Athletic Complex and will open on Friday night with a 90-minute production inspired by the city's manufacturing history.
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U.S. Sen. Edward Markey pledged his support as the city and its partners embark on an ambitious plan of refashioning the downtown, the Hoosic River, the bike path and the connections to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. click for more