Adams' Rail Trail Easements Go To Eminent Domain

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
09:26PM / Wednesday, November 16, 2011Print Story | Email Story

ADAMS, Mass. — Securing easements for the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail to extend through the Adams Corporate Park has come to eminent domain.

The Board of Selectmen regrettably approved the warrant for a special town meeting on Monday, Dec. 5, that includes taking about 12,000 square feet from Adams Plumbing and Heating and about 39,000 square feet from Stephentown Management Group, better known as Atlantis Equipment. The land taking will give the town access to construct the rail trail extension from Hoosac Street to Lime Street.

"At the town meeting, I will not vote for eminent domain but I will vote for this motion to put it to the voters," board member Michael Ouellette said. "I don't support using eminent domain for this project."

The town has $2.5 million in federal funds hinging on those easements. Voters had approved at the annual town meeting to accept easements from property owners in the park at no cost to the town. However, while the town is still negotiating with one of those last two tenants — though town officials declined to specify which one — the other has refused.

"We just thought that our negotiations weren't going any further," Town Administrator Jonathan Butler said.

The board has been split in which approach to take with the final two tenants. While some were pushing for eminent domain, others felt the town should redesign the project to accommodate them. Ultimately, the board will now leave it to voters to decide.

The businesses would receive about $5,000 each but the specific dollar amount has not been determined and will be amended from the floor, Butler said.

Voters will also be asked to decide on giving Conserve Thru Control, or CTC Inc., a tax break to move its business from the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art to the Corporate Park. The tax increment financing agreement would exempt the company from property taxes in the first year of moving to town and the tax breaks will decrease by 20 percent each year.

"This is a good example of setting up a good TIF agreement," Chairman Arthur "Skip" Harrington said.

The company was founded in Adams but moved when it grew. Now, with a new building in the park, the company is looking to come back and bring 20 or so jobs with it.

Also, voters are being asked to appropriate already available funds of $120,000 to the veterans benefits budget line. The town, as well as many neighboring municipalities, have seen a sharp increase in benefit requests. The $120,000 is hoped to finish out the fiscal year and is a drastic change from the about $20,000 the town had budgeted.

Butler said the increase in local towns is driven by state officials directing more veterans to see the town as well as an increase in soldiers returning from war. The board fully supported the additional funds.

"I am totally in favor of doing whatever we need to do to take care of our veterans," Harrington said.

A final warrant article is asking voters to change the name of a section of Print Works Drive to Renfrew Street.

The warrant is available below.
Adams Special Town Meeting Warrant 2011
Tags: Adams Corporate Park, Ashuwillticook Rail Trail,

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It is too bad that it came to this for such a great community project. Rail Trail brings as many people to Adams as anything else we got. Letting the residents of the Town decide at town meeting seems like the fairest way to do it.
from: Hopeful	on: 11-17-2011 09:08AM I Agree (18) - I Disagree (8)

Shame on Adams Heating and Stephentown Management! Hopeful has hit the nail in the head! The rail trail is a great thing for all of Berkshire County and all it's visitors. Just spend some time in Lanesboro and Cheshire and you will see. I am ready for the extension of the Rail Trail to Williamstown!
from: ab williamstown	on: 11-17-2011 12:04PM I Agree (11) - I Disagree (12)

Too bad no one has bothered to ask the businesses impacted what the problems are. There is no concern as to how it negatively impacts their businesses which are providing quality jobs during this period of difficult economic times. Rather one sided if you ask me.
from: Sensibility now!	on: 11-17-2011 07:03PM I Agree (10) - I Disagree (4)

Wondering how the person from Williamstown measures positive impact. Does riding on the trail through the communities and not spending any money while doing so constitute adding to the communities ?
from: Just wondering	on: 11-17-2011 07:08PM I Agree (10) - I Disagree (3)

Where are people going to park at the end of the extention to lime street? At the end of the trail in lanesboro there is a parking lot. In cheshire you have the causeway, the lot by cheshire lake and the lot by the post office. Adams you can park at russell field, the lot by the bank and the visitors center. Are people going to be parking in these businesses lots? I'm sure they won't be too thrilled about that. Has this been addressed by the board? We should use the money for more bump outs in park street instead with lots of benches that way all of the trail hikers will have a place to sit and eat the bagged lunch they pack.
from: Confused In Adams	on: 11-17-2011 10:03PM I Agree (4) - I Disagree (2)

Yes, I do spend money in Lanesboro and a Whitney's for lunch and drinks! Look around the Rail Trail and you will see, athletes, wheelchairs, children and fishermen. These people cross every walk of life. I do think that speaks volumes for the Trail! Ask the folks in North Hampton MA how the Bike Path has helped their community.
from: ab williamstown	on: 11-21-2011 09:18AM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

Regional Trail Coordinator Barnes Retires After Four Decades With DCR

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires.com Staff
05:25AM / Monday, November 02, 2026

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Department of Conservation and Recreation celebrated the retirement of Trails Supervisor Rebecca Barnes after four decades of service.

Friends and colleagues gathered in the Mount Greylock State Reservation Visitor Center and park offices on Wednesday to celebrate Barnes.

She began working at Mount Greylock State Reservation while in high school as a seasonal conservation helper, saying she fell in love with the place.

"Fell in love with Mount Greylock, and ever since I've been doing different jobs and different positions," said the Hoosac Valley graduate. "But I came full circle back to Mount Greylock at the end of the career, and I've been taking care of the forest and parks for 40 years now, and loving it, the trails, the campgrounds, the summit, the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail."

Priscilla Geigis, deputy commissioner for conservation and resource stewardship, wrote a song the group sang for Barnes, who she said has inspired her during the more than 20 years they've worked together.

"Becky is so enthusiastic. She's so kind. She's funny. She's creative. She's really passionate and she's really dedicated. And I will miss all of those qualities," said Geigis. "She really knows how to balance conservation and recreation. She is so committed to connecting people to our incredible resources, not just here at her beloved Greylock, but also throughout the state to really make that connection and to pass on that idea that everyone has a role to play in stewardship.

"And you can see that time and again with all of her work in mentoring our staff, in mentoring young people who are just starting out, mentoring volunteers, just really making that connection. And so she's a really hard worker. She she will do anything."

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