Council postpones vote on ICE-linked grant
The North Adams City Council voted 9-0 to postpone a decision on a $14,231 federal Byrne JAG grant after residents warned its conditions could tie police data-sharing to ICE enforcement.
Select Board · Meeting of October 14, 2026
NORTH ADAMS — The North Adams City Council voted 9-0 to postpone a decision on a $14,231 federal Byrne JAG grant after residents warned its conditions could tie police data-sharing to ICE enforcement. City Solicitor Joe Barr told councilors "it is unlikely that these conditions could be enforced against the city," but Councilor Fitch said she remained too uneasy to vote yes, saying "I'm emotional, but I'm also afraid." Council President Ashley Shade said the city would maintain "zero compliance" with objectionable conditions regardless of the outcome. The council will revisit the grant October 27 after seeking Attorney General assurance of legal defense.
Separately, councilors voted 9-0 to refer North Adams Tenants Association security complaints, raised by president Corey Fortin, to the Public Safety Committee, with a return date of December's first meeting. Three short-term rental enforcement ordinances also passed unanimously.
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Source: the Select Board meeting of October 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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