North Adams Council OKs End-of-Year TransfersBy Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
02:35AM / Wednesday, July 15, 2015 | |
 Mayor Richard Alcombright displays one of three books, one a cookbook, received from the city's Italian Sister City Tremosine. The books can be seen at the city clerk's office. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council on Tuesday night approved the transfer of $488,548.75 in available funds to balance overspent accounts in the fiscal 2015 budget.
"What's really good is we are able to close the budget without striking our reserves," said Mayor Richard Alcombright. "I think this is a banner year."
Monies were taken from salary and expense accounts in General Government, Public Safety, Public Services and unclassified. The largest account transfer was to snow & ice for $127,058.12 and the smallest $112.27 to the retirement of debt.
Alcombright and City Auditor David Fierro briefly reviewed the numbers, noting that battling the winter weather had accrued the most overages in terms of expenses and salaries.
Last year, the city was forced to use up the last of its land sale account along with more than $400,000 in transfers to close a nearly $700,000 end-of-the-year budget gap.
The city is also anticipating free cash coming back after the state certifies the numbers this fall. Fierro estimated $400,000 in turnbacks but cautioned that that figure does not take into account a number of factors, such as state reimbursements.
Still, the mayor described this year as "a turning point" in the city's fiscal condition.
In other business, the City Council postponed planned amendments to zoning ordinances that would allow property owners to rebuild on nonconforming lots until the language could be completed by the city solicitor.
The changes were brought forward by City Councilor Wayne Wilkinson to bring the city in line with other municipalities. In addition to allowing rebuilding, he also raised concerns over the allowing nonconforming commercial structures to continue business in a residential zone and the mechanisms for a landowner to gain permission to build on a nonconforming lot to the General Government Committee.
The committee on June 30 voted to recommend the changes pending language from the solicitor.
Wilkinson, a professional appraiser, had raised concern that residents who lost their homes because of fire or other damage could be refused a permit to rebuild on lots that did not meet current criteria because they predated zoning.
The new language ensures a right to rebuild for two years; it also provides for the Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Planning Board to issue special permits to allow buildings to retain their commercial use in residential zones. The code currently sets a limit of two years before commercial buildings grandfathered under zoning reverted to residential.
Councilor Keith Bona asked if that meant any building could be converted to commercial through a special permit. Wilkinson, a former member of the Planning Board, said only buildings that were historically and "physically" commercial would be eligible for a special permit. That option does not currently exist in ordinance.
He pointed to the former NAPA building on State Road as an example. The structure is not suitable for residential but has been vacant for more than two years so can no longer be used for commercial.
Several recommendations from the Traffic Commission related to setting up school zones at Brayton and Colegrove Park elementary schools was referred to the Public Safety Committee.
The council also indicated there will likely be a lengthy debate over the mayor's proposal to borrow funds to pay the settlement with Freight Yard Pub. The restaurant sued the North Adams Redevelopment Authority in 2011 over the loss of parking during the reconstruction of the Hadley Overpass.
Former councilor Robert Moulton Jr. raised the issue during open forum, pointing to an article one year ago in The Berkshire Eagle quoting the mayor as saying "the city will not be on the hook for the money."
The matter is expected to come before the council in two weeks and Council President Lisa Blackmer requested her colleaugues be cognizant of that and not load up the agenda, saying she expected debate.
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