Berkshire Visitors Bureau To Leave AdamsBy Andy McKeever
iBerkshires Staff
12:55AM / Thursday, August 18, 2011
ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshire Visitors Bureau intends to leave the visitors center, Town Administrator Jonathan Butler announced Wednesday.
Butler said he received a letter from Berkshire Visitors Bureau President Lauri Klefos informing the town that the bureau is intending to move out of its offices and join the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, the Berkshire Creative Economy Council and the Berkshire Economic Development Corp. in one building — under the 1Berkshires umbrella in Pittsfield.
The Discover the Berkshires Visitors Center will continue to operate; the bureau has occupied offices on the second floor since the before the building officially opened in 2004. But the departure carries some symbolism.
The $2.5 million visitors center was seen by some as a consolation prize from then Gov. Jane Swift after she pulled the plug on a proposed golf course project at the Greylock Glen. It was hailed in the early part of this century as a the beginning of an economic development package to revitalize the town. That package bred dreams of a Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts satellite campus and a technology center, which never came to fruition, and development of an education center that's still on the drawing board for the Greylock Glen.
Those high ambitions kicked off when the center broke ground 2001, bringing the county's Visitors Bureau to the mill town. But since then, the bureau's staff has dropped from highs of around a dozen down to about four.
Last April, 1Berkshire was established to pool the resources of the four development groups and market the entire county. Butler said the letter indicated that the organization will be combining under one roof. But not in Adams.
"They're going to leave most of the supplies in the building to the town," he said, adding that the bureau will still work with the town on marketing and will train volunteers for the Adams Visitors Center.
In other business, the Board of Selectmen approved a 15-year contract with Tecta Solar to purchase discounted power generated from a solar array at the former town landfill. The contract is estimated to save the town up to $172,000 annually and $2.3 million throughout the length of the contract.
"This is going to save the town a lot of money," Butler said. "It's a win-win for everybody."
He said the project is expected to be completed by the end of the year and the array will provide nearly all of the town with green energy. The town also has an option for an additional five years which would save another $1 million, Butler said.
"This is a big deal," Selectman Scott Nichols said. "We're taking a piece of property that was basically wasteland for us."
The board also placed five liquor-licenses holders on suspended sentences for failing to pass compliance checks. O'Geary's package store, Forest Park Country Club, Wojo's bar, C.J's Sports Pub, and Gringo's Firehouse Cafe were all given a six-month probationary period after they failed alcohol compliance checks in June. If one of those establishments fails another check in that period, an immediate two one-day license suspension will become effective.
The board also approved Hoosac Valley High School's usage of Renfrew Field for nine junior varsity soccer games while the new school is being constructed. The board had already approved nine games for the varsity teams and voiced concern about the upkeep of the field. However, James Fassell of the Parks Commission said Renfrew is the only practical place the team can play.
"We're not happy with it but we have to be a good neighbor. It's only for one year," Fassell said.
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