NORTH ADAMS -- The North Adams Police Depart ment has three new police officers and two new reserve officers to round out its ranks.
Police Officers Brad Vivori, Trevor Manning and Joshua Zustra were ceremonially sworn in during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. The officers took their official oaths July 11.
"As has been my practice, I am very pleased to introduce the council and our community to our three newest permanent police officers," Mayor Richard J. Alcombright said. "The three permanent police officers have all served the department in a reserve capacity and have distinguished themselves through their training, service and commitment."
In addition, reserve officers Jonathan Beaudreau and Nicholas Richards, along with reserve firefighters Casey Cooke, Brad Sacco and Tyler Bolte, were also ceremonially sworn in at the meeting. A fourth reserve firefighter, Collin Boucher, was not present. The reserve officers and firefighters also took their official oaths July 11.
" ... We truly respect and value what you do," Alcombright said. "It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of training, a lot of effort and a lot of risk. My wish for you is that you are happy in your jobs and that you stay safe and healthy."
In other action, the council postponed a public hearing to declare 160 Eagle St. a public nuisance to the neighborhood and passed a $160,000 borrowing order for the purchase of technology upgrades to a
Alcombright asked for the public hearing to be postponed, as Michael Hernandez, who was listed as the owner of 160 Eagle St., had sent a reply, dated July 23, noting he was not the legal owner of the building but that the property was owned by Nandez LLC, a company of which he is manager.
The mayor said that after conferring with City Solicitor John DeRosa and despite Nandez LLC being dissolved by a court order in 2009, it was best to err on the side of caution and postpone the public hearing until letters were sent to Hernandez in his capacity as manager of Nandez LLC. The hearing was unanimously postponed until Aug. 14.
A $160,000 borrowing order for technology upgrades, including 34 new desktop computers, a new digital phone system and a new digital fax system, was passed to a second reading, after Councilor John Barrett III requested the city’s bond counsel take a second look at the order.
Alcombright explained that the $160,000 would be paid from the city’s technology account, which is funded through funds received from Time Warner Cable and thus would have no impact on the city’s budget or tax rate.
However, Barrett questioned whether the hardware items could be purchased with the funds, stating that language in the borrowing order mentioning financial management systems did not match the equipment being sought.
"Has bond counsel taken a look at this?" he asked.
Alcombright replied that not only had the city’s bond counsel approved the order, but that he had written the order. However, the mayor agreed to have the order looked at again before the council’s next meeting.
To reach Jennifer Huberdeau, email jhuberdeau@thetranscript.com.
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