It is my belief that the first priority of the North Adams City Council should be budgetary oversight. In my opinion, the current council has shirked that responsibility by allowing the Mayor to present budgets that must be constantly altered throughout the year, transferring funds from department to department, to cover obligations that were contractually agreed upon or easily foreseen. Departmental budgets should reflect employees on the payroll, rather than positions that will not be filled, as well as other actual departmental expenses. Monies not allocated to actual or reasonably projected expenses should be placed in the general fund rather than left in departmental budgets.
In addition, the city’s self insurance trust fund should be budgeted for at projected levels rather than transferring as little money as possible into to it from other areas of the budget throughout the year.
Also, during my first term I will propose the following:
- Advocate locally for the statewide adoption of Governor Patrick’s Education Readiness program, which makes public school teachers employees of the state rather than of the city. This will create pay equity between local districts and help North Adams recruit and keep talented teachers.
- Create a non-voting Junior Councilor position on the city council to be filled by a high school junior or senior, nominated by the community and approved by the sitting council.
- Create property tax incentives for residents who convert rental, historic and/or dilapidated properties back into owner-occupied homes.
- Restore a sustainable balance of housing options to stabilize the property tax base.
- Support the efforts the Hoosic River Revival Coalition to redevelop North Adams’ riverfront.
- Put all city ordinances, code, zoning and public information on an internet accessible and searchable data base.
- Honor John Barrett’s 26 years in office by putting his name on a piece of public infrastructure.
- Encourage the state to renovate and develop Fort Massachusetts (in the Price Chopper parking lot) and fold it into the State Park System.
I will encourage public discussion of controversial issues, rather than having such issues only discussed behind closed doors and/or in poorly covered and attended committee meetings. Citizens deserve to hear all competent sides of a debate.
Also, I promise to be accessible and an advocate for citizen voices. It is my belief that in a city the size of North Adams, through an orderly vetting process, all adult citizens should be allowed to place an item on the agenda of the council for discussion rather than be automatically limited to a two minute comment.
