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Date: 1/2/2024
NORTHAMPTON — With a new term approaching in January, the Northampton City Council officially said goodbye to three of its council members during their Dec. 21 meeting.
City Council President Jim Nash joined City Council Vice President Karen Foster and At-Large City Councilor Jamila Gore in giving final remarks to the full council during their final meeting of 2023.
“I’m really proud of the work we’ve done as a council, the way we’ve come together [and] the way that we share leadership,” said Nash, during the announcements portion of the meeting.
A resident of Ward 3 since 2000, Nash founded Careerworks Inc. in 2001 and has worked in Human Services for over 35 years. He served as the council’s president since 2021 and has also been a part of various council committees like the Committee on Finance and Committee on Legislative Matters.
Prior to serving the council, he served on the Northampton Public Transit Subcommittee, the Northampton Committee on Disabilities, Zoning Revisions Committee, and was the chair of the Northampton Passenger Rail Advisory Committee.
During the Dec. 21 council meeting, Nash reminisced about the council’s accomplishments and thanked every council member individually along the way.
He noted how the council navigated their way through the coronavirus pandemic together and created important groups like the Select Committee to Study Barriers to Serving on City Boards and Commissions and the Commission to Investigate Racialized Harms.
He also mentioned items that the council did not always agree on, like a new contract for police dash cams and a vote to put a cap of 12 dispensaries in the city. Although they may have disagreed, Nash said they did so with respect.
“We did not always vote in unison,” Nash said. “We divided on votes around dash cams, fundings for St. John Cantius, the cannabis cap, student officers, and through it all, we’ve remained collegial and respectful of one another, and for that, I am deeply grateful.”
Foster, meanwhile, served as Northampton’s Ward 2 City Council member for the past four years as well as the council’s vice president for two. She is moving on from the council to serve on the city’s School Committee beginning this next term.
Currently, Foster serves as the executive director for All Out Adventures.
“It’s a little bit of a bittersweet thing to be stepping down from council,” Foster said. “It really has been a tremendous experience, and the reason it has been is because of all of you here in the room, from the mayor’s office to my colleagues.”
For Gore, who has been an artist, activist and teacher in Northampton for the last 15-plus years, this past term will be her only on council, but she said she still plans to be involved with Northampton in some way.
“It’s been great to work with all of you and get to know you,” said Gore, addressing the council. “I’ve learned so much, and it’s been a great experience … I appreciate all of the work we’ve done together.”
To cap off his tenure with the council, Nash prepared two songs that he performed in front of the council. The first was a track about road safety sung as a rendition of Johnny Cash’s “I’ve Been Everywhere.” Nash played guitar while City Councilor Alex Jarrett was on vocals.
The second song was an original solely played by Nash, who expressed his gratitude for the city in one final rhythmic goodbye.
“Good night, Northampton, sleep well tonight,” he sung.
Nash’s Ward 3 seat will be filled by Quaverly Rothenberg in January. Deborah Pastrich-Klemer, meanwhile, will fill Foster’s Ward 2 seat. City Councilors Garrick Perry, Marissa Elkins will be at-large councilors with Gore leaving as Jeremy Dubs takes Perry’s place in the Ward 4 seat.