NORTHAMPTON — At-large City Councilor Jesse M. Adams resigned Friday after six-plus years in office, stating he can no longer serve on the council and meet the demands of his law practice.
“I put a tremendous amount of time, effort and hard work into each and can no longer do both at the same time,” Adams wrote in a resignation letter submitted to the city clerk’s office Friday morning. “My resignation is the best decision for myself and my family.”
His departure from the council is effective immediately and took councilors — and Mayor David Narkewicz — by surprise.
Narkewicz said in a statement Friday that he was “shocked and disappointed” by Adams’ abrupt departure.
“It is a significant loss for the City Council and Northampton,” Narkewicz said in the statement. “I was privileged to serve alongside Jesse as a fellow councilor-at-large for two terms and have worked closely with him as mayor over the last four and a half years. I thank him for his service to our city and wish him and his family nothing but the best moving forward.”
Council Vice President Ryan R. O’Donnell echoed the mayor’s sentiment.
“I’m as surprised as anybody,” he said, a morning after sparring with Adams over an ordinance relating to privatization of the city’s public water supply.
“I saw him (Thursday) night and had no idea of his intentions.” O’Donnell said. “I enjoyed serving on the council with him and I wish him the best and appreciate his contributions to the city.”
Adams was first elected to the council in 2009 and formerly served as a trustee of Forbes Library. He has often been a critical voice on the council who has cast dissenting votes, including Thursday night when he was the lone dissenter on an ordinance banning privatization of the city’s water supply system.
Adams served as vice chairman of the council’s Finance Committee, and he leaves open seats on the committees for legislative matters and public works and utilities.
Adams was in Northampton District Court Friday morning and not immediately available for comment, but wrote in his resignation letter that he is “proud of my accomplishments in public office over the last nine years, including winning five consecutive citywide elections, writing important laws like the plastic bag ban, and being an independent voice, always repudiating the group think of city government.”
He thanked voters for electing him and said he looks forward to serving the public in new ways in the future.
Under the city’s charter, the City Council must schedule a special election within 90 days of the vacancy, according to the City Clerk Wendy Mazza. She said once that date is set, a preliminary election would be held 28 days in advance if more than two candidates seek the office.
When an election date is set, Mazza said she will make nomination papers available in her office.
Staff writers Amanda Drane and Michael Majchrowicz contributed to this report.