Dug-Out Motel in Adams Now Empty

ADAMS, Mass. — The Dug-Out Motel is empty.

Code Enforcement Officer Scott Koczela said all families living at the hotel have found alternative housing and the motel is now closed off and secure. The motel is under court-ordered receivership after the town placed a vacate order on it. The motel had been operating as more of a boarding home and had multiple health code violations.

"The Dug-Out is now officially empty," Koczela told the Board of Health on Wednesday. "It is unoccupied and secured."

The building is currently staying heated and watched over by Albany, N.Y., attorney Douglas Rose. Rose is expected to provide housing court with an update on the building next week. The tenants were assisted in finding other homes by the Tenancy Preservation and a group at the Council on Aging.

Meanwhile, owners Shoba Inc. and managers Guravtar Enterprises will need to sort out who will take the property over, how it will operate and who will pay Rose's expenses. The town has put a hold on the motel's operating license.

The board initially requested all residents to be out in early January but pushed that date back until March 1.

But, with the resignation of Chairman Richard Frost, the board now wants to hold off until a third member is appointed.

"I think for now, we won't do anything more until a third member is on the board," said Patricia Clairmont, who was chosen to take over the chairmanship. "The more heads you have, the better job you will do."

The board is asking the Selectmen to appoint Allen Mendel to replace Frost until the town election. Mendel had previously expressed interest in running for the seat and is a former Board of Health member.

The appointment will only be for a few months but the board wants to continue with the regulations while it is "still fresh."

"We are well on our way to getting this done," Clairmont said.

Cheshire Town Meeting Oks Budgets, Debates Potential Prop 2 1/2 Override

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
10:12PM / Monday, June 08, 2026

Moderator Carol Francesconi, left, and Anne Marie Furey were presented flowers in memory of the Rev. William Furey, their brother and husband, respectively. The town report was dedicated to him. 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Town meeting on Monday approved all 35 articles on the annual meeting warrant, including a total spending for fiscal 2027 of more than $8.5 million. 

 

Some 77 of the town's more than 2,500 registered voters filled the Cheshire Community House meeting room, debating on a number of articles during the meeting that lasted nearly three hours

 

The town dedicated its annual report to the Rev. William David Furey, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church and more recently Berkshire Union Chapel in Lanesborough. Furey died last year at age 77.

 

His wife, Anne Marie Furey, and his sister, Town Moderator Carol Francesconi, were presented with a bouquet of flowers in tribute to him. 

 

He was an exemplary member of the community who left a lasting impression in each and every life that he touched, said Town Clerk Whitney Flynn. 

 

Voters approved several warrant articles that make up an operating budget of $3,840,314 for fiscal 2027. Of this amount, $1,642,481 is allocated for the general government budget, which was approved after clarification of a few questions.

 

One item was the administrative assistant's salary. Prior to the annual meeting, the town eliminated the executive assistant salary of $54,309 in favor of a part-time administrative assistant salary of $27,155, to reduce costs considering the financial constraint the town is in.