North Adams Council Hears Concerns Over Family Shelter Proposal
Laini Sporbert and Daniel Bosley, at left, alumni of the college, question the suitability of the Berkshire Towers as a shelter and the proposal's impact on the stability of the college.
Neighbors of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts say they are concerned about a lack of transparency and the unknown impacts that 50 to 75 families will have on the community's resources and the college.
"I'm not against providing housing for anyone who needs it. I just don't believe this particular choice is suitable option for MCLA's future stability or to the strength and stability this city," said resident Kurt Kolok, who asked to be placed on the agenda. "Such a proposal would require many additional resources or defeat any we may already have ...
"I've met with numerous neighbors and friends who feel the same way I do. Even in a couple of cases where their initial response may have been in favor of the proposal their perspective became less certain after discussions of the many impacts the proposed project would likely have on things such as mental and physical health resources and services, social and city services, public safety capabilities, school classes and programs."
The state Department of Housing and Community Development and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency had approached the college last fall about leasing the vacant dormitories on Church Street. The state's been looking to its properties, including Salem State University, as emergency shelter for the more than 3,500 families unhoused across the state.
Mayor Jennifer Macksey said she had the same questions and concerns as residents and had raised them at a meeting with DHCD in February.
"The answer I got at the February meeting was we're still developing a plan," she said. "They can name ServiceNet [as manager], but they can't name the wraparound services and what the plan is going to look like. And I said, we need to know."
She later added, "I'm concerned about these people after they leave the program, or, God forbid, they get bounced from the program. Where are they going to go? They're going to come on our doorstep."
According to the minutes of an executive session last November, MCLA President James Birge told the trustees that the state agencies were intending to use the vacant towers for short-term shelter of five to 10 days and would provide security, food, supplies, transportation and medical care.
This past Thursday, he reported that an agreement in writing had still not been received. Birge said he thought it too early to have a community forum when he couldn't answer questions without more information.
Councilor Michael Obasohan, also a member of the college's Alumni Board of Directors, said he had received much the same message at a board meeting over the weekend.
"If you don't have the answers to those questions, make it known that you do not have the answers to those questions," he said. "Because we as a community are waiting to hear what is happening ... especially, you know, for people who live next to MCLA, and I'm one who also lives within a neighborhood of MCLA, incidentally, very, very close to campus."
Councilor Ashley Shade, also an alum like more than a few in the room, said it was important to consider the students as well, since they, too, were North Adams residents while on campus.
Concerns ranged from police and fire responses, to the area's reduced health care system to the capacity for the school system to take in children who may have English as a second language.
Daniel Bosley, a former state representative who also lives near campus, said the dormitories were not suitable for families inside or out and that DHCD had modified to the demographics from Berkshire residents to Western Mass to Worcester to elsewhere.
"It's not good for the city, because the city depends on the economy of the college and the economy of the college is failing," he said. "We need to rectify that. And it's not by putting homeless families there."
Several people questioned the college's ability to boost enrollment with a homeless facility one side of the campus and a drug recovery center on the other side. They questioned Birge's commitment to the college and a lack of communication with the city.
"Berkshire Towers is not an appropriate place for families. There's no yard, there's no kitchens. The suite-style housing is not set up for family usage," said Alyssa "Laini" Sporbert, suggesting that the townhouses would be a better fit. "But what we really need to know is the president's plan for increasing the enrollment beyond the nursing program and the resurrecting of the athletic program."
Kolok said that if he were a parent, he would be thinking twice about leaving his child "between two compromised populations." People may be homeless through no fault of their own, he continued, but putting them on a college campus wasn't a solution.
"I took lots of pride in the work I did on that campus," said the mayor, a former college employee. "And I really think they should be focused on student engagement, building enrollment.
"This is an enrollment strategy nightmare, as a former higher ed professional, and it is a nightmare in my community."
Councilor Keith Bona, who put Kolok on the agenda, said he wasn't sure it was all the college but rather higher up in the state looking to utilize property.
"One of the biggest issues that I have is the lack of communication, with transparency and what they have not told us as the city, so it's hard for the city to prepare," he said.
Amber Besaw, executive director of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, said NBCC and Berkshire Housing had reached out to offer to facilitate a community forum.
The mayor said she's tried to have more informative conversations with state leaders, including the lieutenant governor.
"We're still asking, and honestly, I don't know how many times we have to ask before we can get that information," she said.
City Clerk Joshua Vallieres attends his final meeting; Vice President Bryan Sapienza presides over the meeting.
In other business,
• The council confirmed the reappointments of Sandra Thomas to the Board of Registrars for a term ending April 1, 2026, and David Willette to the Parks and Recreation Commission for a term ending May 1, 2028; and the appointments of Robert Reynolds to the Conservation Commission to fill the unexpired term of Isaiah Moore, ending Aug. 1, 2024, and Marie McCarron to the Youth Commission for a term ending March 25, 2025.
• A grant authorization from Aeronautics Division of Massachusetts Department of Transportation for the Northeast Hangar project was referred to the Finance Committee.
• The council approved a secondhand license to Mary Ann George for Maryanntiques & Gifts with Bona abstaining as he owns secondhand business.
• Council Vice President Bryan Sapienza, chairing the meeting in President Lisa Blackmer's absence. It was also the last meeting for City Clerk Joshua Vallieres, who resigned earlier this month.
Tags: homeless, MCLA,
