Adams Selectmen Approve Middle School Roof Repairs

Director of Community Development Donna Cesan addressing the Board of Selectmen at Wednesday's public hearing.

ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved Wednesday applying for $600,000 in grant funding to replace a section of the Adams Memorial Middle School roof.

The town has been working toward an application for the federal Community Development Block Grant Reserve program, accessing leftover 2012 funds, to replace 34,000 square feet of the roof.

That would mean new roofing above the gymnasium, auditorium and administrative office area but not the classroom wing.

"This will stabilize the building," said Director of Community Development Donna Cesan on Wednesday during a public hearing.

The town has already worked with  architectural firm edm to get preliminary estimates that were used for the application, including a 10 to 15 percent contingency. The town was invited to apply after state officials said the project was a good match for the program because of its economic development potential.

The town's plan is to reuse those portions of the school with short-term leases to private companies - one being saucemaker Ooma Tesoro and another the Youth Center - while working with state grant programs to develop a formal reuse plan. That formal plan will analyze the options of selling it, redeveloping it or demolishing it.

There are other renovation needs before the entities can move into the building but the roof is the most immediate. Cesan said the project could be bid this year since the results of the grant could be known within weeks of its Aug. 9 deadline.

Cesan is proposing using about $20,000 from the Community Development's budget to hire an architect to move the process quickly. That $20,000 was specially left out of the grant because it is quicker if an architect works with the town instead of the state, she said.

Adams District Voters OK All Annual Meeting Articles

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
10:06AM / Thursday, May 28, 2026

The Prudential Committee and Fire Department officers meet in the fire station on Wednesday night.

ADAMS, Mass. — Officials say the unanimous approval of all warrant articles at the district's annual meeting reaffirms citizen support for the district's efforts and well positions the district to address future challenges faced by many communities. 

 

Nearly 40 voted at Wednesday's meeting, which lasted 20 minutes, approving all items with no discussion, including a $3.6 million budget, a petition to the state for a special legislation retirement age exemption, and a bylaw change making the clerk and treasurer positions appointed.

 

Voters approved the appropriation of $808,295.81 to the general fund for operational expenses. The general fund covers fire services, administration, and street lighting. They also approved the appropriation of $1,721,144.92 to fund the enterprise fund expenses. This fund supports the Water Department. 

 

The budget is anticipated to raise the district tax rate by 30 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, resulting in a new rate of $1.17, however, the exact amount will not be known until the town determines on property valuations in the fall.

 

"I think it is forward thinking. It's an immense leap forward to try to sustain all of our emergency services that the district, as an umbrella company, holds, whether it be fire or water," Water Superintendent John Barrett said. 

 

"Neither of us can sustain each other without it, and that just everything in [the warrant] summarizes all of our efforts throughout the year to continue sustaining our services."

 

Some articles have been years in the making by former Chief John Pansecchi, who had raised them years prior, Chief Engineer David Lennon said.