The city is developing a comprehensive ordinance to establish mandatory transparency and ethical oversight for all artificial intelligence tools used in local government.

North Adams is positioning itself at the forefront of municipal governance by drafting the S.A.F.E. A.I. ordinance, a legislative effort designed to establish strict guardrails for the deployment of artificial intelligence within local government operations. Drafted by City Council President Ashley Shade and supported by Chief Technology Officer Mark Pierson, the proposed policy seeks to preemptively address the risks associated with algorithmic decision-making before the technology becomes deeply integrated into public services.

The ordinance categorizes AI applications into low-risk and high-risk tiers, with the latter subject to rigorous civil rights and equity reviews. High-risk designations include any systems influencing legal rights, public benefits, municipal hiring, law enforcement, or surveillance activities. This distinction shifts the regulatory focus from the technical sophistication of the tool to the specific nature of the decision being automated.

A central component of the proposal is the creation of an AI compliance and innovation officer role, a position Pierson expects to assume as an extension of his current duties. This official would manage an advisory committee tasked with auditing high-risk systems to ensure they meet municipal standards. Any tool failing these assessments would be prohibited from use within city departments, including schools and the police force.

The policy also mandates the establishment of a public online registry to disclose all AI tools currently in operation. By requiring this level of transparency, the city aims to ensure that residents remain informed about the automated systems influencing their interactions with government services. This registry serves as a mechanism for public accountability, mirroring similar collaborative efforts observed in other jurisdictions.

North Adams currently utilizes AI for limited administrative tasks, such as drafting memos and generating meeting minutes, supported by a modest $3,000 budget allocation for 2026. Officials emphasize that these existing applications fall within the low-risk category. The ordinance serves as a preventive measure against the potential for bias in more sensitive areas, such as facial recognition technology, which Pierson noted often lacks representative training data.

The legislative process has involved multiple committee reviews, including the IDEA Commission and the Public Safety Committee, with final revisions expected to conclude later this year. City Council members are currently working through the text section by section to clarify implementation procedures and enforcement protocols. This methodical approach reflects the lack of a standardized national model for municipal AI regulation.

Gerol Petruzella, a technology support consultant at Williams College, highlights that the implementation of such guardrails is essential for defending the public interest as government agencies increasingly integrate machine learning into daily workflows. He notes that while the registry provides necessary transparency, the city will face ongoing challenges regarding the enforcement of these rules, particularly when managing private vendors who frequently update their software. The ordinance is explicitly designed as a foundational document intended to evolve alongside the technology it regulates.

The initiative draws inspiration from broader municipal efforts, including Somerville’s 2019 ban on facial recognition and the algorithmic bias restrictions implemented in New York City. By aligning with the collaborative framework of the GovAI Coalition, North Adams aims to contribute to a growing body of best practices for local government AI adoption. The city’s commitment to this framework underscores a broader shift toward proactive, risk-based governance in the public sector.

The proposed ordinance also addresses the complex reality of third-party procurement, requiring vendors to adhere to the same transparency standards as internal departments. This ensures that the city does not inadvertently bypass its own ethical requirements by outsourcing high-risk tasks to external entities. Such provisions are critical for maintaining a consistent standard of accountability across all municipal functions.

Future milestones include final approval from the city attorney and a formal vote by the City Council. As the municipality moves toward adoption, the focus will likely shift to the practicalities of auditing third-party software and maintaining the integrity of the public registry.

The success of this ordinance may provide a scalable blueprint for other municipalities seeking to balance technological innovation with ethical oversight.

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