Koczela To Return As Code Enforcement Officer in Adams
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ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen has ratified Scott Koczela as the code enforcement officer/community development specialist.
During the budget process, the board agreed to eliminate the full-time code enforcement officer to free up some more funds for the school district’s budget. However, through retirements and the reallocation of funds, Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco announced Wednesday that the town can bring back Koczela, who will continue his role as code enforcement officer part time while also taking on the community development specialist part time.
Mazzucco said Koczela will give 40 percent of his time to the code enforcement officer position, spending two days in the board of health office. He will spend 60 percent of his time, the other three days, in the community development office.
Selectman Joseph Nowak said he felt as though Koczela was “slighted” when the town eliminated his position. This sentiment has been shared by other residents and members of the board of health, who previously stated they were “blindsided” by the decision.
Nowak said he is glad that Koczela will return as a town employee
“Scott has been a very dedicated servant to this community for nearly 10 years,” Nowak said. “I am happy he is back and is able to do what we need to be done.”
Mazzucco said the director of community development, Donna Cesan, said she is confident that the department will be fine with a reduced full-time position. He also said Koczela will be able to do additional jobs in community development such as housing inspections that often had to be contracted out.
Mazzucco said the position is partly funded by community development block grants and the town has funds to sustain the position until the end of the calendar year. He said the town will know what they will receive for grant funding later this summer. If they do not receive enough to fund the position, it will be reduced.
The board approved the ratification, 3-1. Selectman Jeffrey Snoonian was absent and Selectman Arthur “Skip” Harrington voted no.
In other business, a representative from the Adams Fire Department and Water District Fire Chief Paul Goyette said the department has received a level three in a public protection classification assessment from the Insurance Services Offices that could lower some homeowners' insurance within the water district.
Goyette said the assessment is based on points that are given for fast response times, regular certified maintenance of equipment, and an excellent water system.
He said previously Adams was a four and out of the near 47,000 departments assessed in the country only near 3,000 score three.
“I would like to pat our boys on the back a little bit because out of 47,000 in the country serviced by this company 2,891 have a three rating and we are now one of them,” Goyette said. "We are proud of our firefighters in this community and what they do.”
Nowak agreed with this sentiment.
“We are so indebted to the Alert Hose Company for what you do for hardly any cost to the residents of Adams,” he said. “We can see that you can outperform fire departments that have been around for a long time with paid help. That shows the dedication and hard work of your fellow firefighters.”
Goyette urged all homeowners within the district to check with their homeowners' insurance representative to see if they can expect the savings in early September.
Tags: Adams, Selectmen,
