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.

In other business, the Board of Health will be waiting for a replacement member before going any further with proposed tobacco laws. Board members have already chosen which items they would like to be further regulated and will be asking the Massachusetts Municipal Association to craft the new laws.

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.