Richard Dassatti is garnering signatures to petition for charter review.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Resident Richard Dassatti is asking the city to reflect on its choice of government.

Dassatti, who has been involved in a number of civic advocacy groups, is soliciting the more than 1,000 signatures of registered voters needed for a city charter review commission. It's not about who's in office, he said, but about the structure of the government.

"I think this form of government doesn't fit the kind of community we have," he told the City Council on Tuesday night. "I think the strong mayor form of government in this community is like cutting butter with a chainsaw."

Dassatti had been given time on the agenda to address the council about his petition by Councilor Kate Hanley Merrigan, whose General Government Committee will look more into the details of a charter commission.

A nine-member commission can be elected by the petition of 15 percent of a municipality's registered voters and has no more than 18 months to come up with a final report. An election would be held for voters to decide any changes.

Pittsfield recently went through a charter review, making several modifications including extending its mayoral term to four years, but maintained its current form of government of mayor and councilors representing wards and at-large.

North Adams voters selected the Plan A type of government of a strong mayor and nine councilors elected at large in 1965. That change was prompted by a petition drive headed by Judge Ernest Rosasco. Prior to that, the city was organized under Plan B, with a mayor and 15 at-large and ward councilors.

Other forms include variations on the roles of mayor, councilors and city manager.

Dassatti said he wanted residents to understand that they could change their government — or decide not to change it all.
 
"It's something we don't have to live with if it's not working for you," he said. "I'm not make it a personal thing ... but if you're not satisfied, here's a way and an opportunity to go about it."

The council voted to refer the matter to the General Government Committee.

In other business, Mayor Richard Alcombright presented the councilors with his fiscal 2016 spending plan for $38,569,857, which is an increase of $840,453 or 2.23 percent over this year. The Finance Committee has been reviewing the budget over the past couple months and will do a final review on Tuesday, June 16, at 5 p.m.

At the same meeting, it will also review the compensation and classification plan for 2016 presented to the council on Tuesday. The City Council is expected to adopt the budget on Tuesday, June 23.

The council also approved new rules for the rifle range in response to a number of complaints from neighbors over the years, including the use of alcohol on the grounds, small children being there and debris from shooting, including hundreds of casings, left behind.

"This has been a problem for far too long and I won't hesitate to close it," said the mayor.

The changes had been prompted by a letter from James R. DeMarco regarding safety at the range but Alcombright said he had been hearing complaints almost from the day he took office.

Police Director Michael Cozzaglio said most people abide by the rules at the range, which the city has had under its purview since about 1960. However, others are abusing their privileges, he said, "they're using anything they can for targets and then they just leave them."

Cozzaglio developed the rules which include requiring a permit from the police, prohibiting children under age 14,  alcohol and glass containers and cleaning up targets and shell casings.

Several users of the range said they did not have any serious issues with the rules (although Robert Cardimino was unhappy with the ban on children since he takes grandson there) but thought some things could be done better. Alcombright encouraged them to come back with a plan or ideas for the range.

"This is a perfect opportunity for the community to get engaged," he said.

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