Adams Selectmen Psyched for Governor's Forum

By Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
11:22PM / Wednesday, June 03, 2009

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ADAMS, Mass. — The Selectmen are hoping to impress the governor with the town's community spirit this August.

Adams is one of two Berkshire locations on Gov. Deval Patrick's schedule of town hall forums this summer; the other is Pittsfield.

"It's a very important event that's going to happen" said Selectman Michael Ouellette at Wednesday's board meeting, and adding that Patrick had cut the ribbon reopening the roads to Mount Greylock last two weeks ago. "The governor, he was totally enamored with the mountain and ... I'd like to see him fall in love with the mountain base."

Originally scheduled for July, the Adams forum will now take place on Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m. Town Administrator Jonathon Butler said he took a staffer from Patrick's office visit the gazebo at Greylock Glen and look over the Town Common on earlier Wednesday to determine a location.

"He seemed to prefer the glen spot," he said. The goal is to get 200 or 300 people to show up, including vendors if possible. The town's only responsibility is to provide an alaternative spot in case of rain, he said.

Chairman Donald Sommer said he hoped the governor would arrive with the $600,000 to begin development of the glen, a matter he'd brought up with him at the peak's reopening.

Oullette suggested that other groups get involved by setting up displays, such as the Adams Agricultural Fair, Susan B. Anthony Birthplace and Museum or Topia Arts, to show the different things happening in Adams and to get the community involved.

Sommer said the various clubs in the area could pitch in to make sure there were plenty of chairs for the expected crowd.

"We want to make this a community activity not just have the selectmen set up it," he said. [We want] to show the governor that we're a community together, working together, and that we need some help."

Library Repair

After some discussion, the board unanimously decided to ask the Finance Committee to transfer $3,322 for emergency repairs to the Adams Free Library's west upper wall.

Several board members questioned the difference in the two bids in price and materials. The winning bid by Cantarella and Son Inc. of Pittsfield would use aluminum flashing and the higher one by Allegrone Masonry of Pittsfield of $5,581 would have used rubber.

Library Trustee David Strzepek said the bidders were invited to look at the masonry wall and submitted what they thought would be needed for repair to the mortar and bricks. Water and snow has been collecting on a "shelf" near roof line, then leaking into the Great Room and damaging the molding.

The board also supported a request to increase the library reserve fund used for materials from $5,000 to $7,000. The fund is supplied by late, lost and damaged fees, annual book sales and copy machine use, among other fees, said Library Director Deborah Bruneau. Revenues have been exceeding $5,000 but the cost of supplies and incidentals has, too, she said.

The town warrant has been set with the reserve fund at $5,000 so any change will have to made on the floor at town meeting. The Selectmen agreed to recommend the change and requested Bruneau also seek approval from the Finance Committee. The change will not affect the library budget.

In other business, the board approved a three-day liquor license for the Parish of Pope John Paul the Great for the picnic grounds; endorsed the a letter of support for the Berkshire Bike Path Council, which is working to developa 75-mile path between North and South County that includes the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail; appointed Butler as chief procurement officer and Americans With Disabilities Act coordinator; and approved a mutual aid document for the Northern Berkshire County Emergency Planning Committee.

The Northern Berkshire Solid Waste Management District will hold a bulky waste collection for furniture, large items, appliances, etc., on Saturday, June 20, from 8:30 to 12:30 at the old landfill. Information on prices for drop-off are available at Town Hall.

"We've been doing this for 10 years and it's been very successfull," said district board member Edward Driscoll, who added that the fee per item is about half that if picked up. "I would encourage everyone to particpate in it."

The board went into executive session to discuss labor negotiations.

Update: The governor's town hall meeting will be held a the Discover the Berkshires Visitors Center because of work at the glen picnic area. The event will begin at 5:30 with information booths and refreshments; the governor is scheduled to speak at 6:30 p.m.