State Awards Adams Funding For Middle School Roof

Staff Reports03:27PM / Monday, September 16, 2013Print Story | Email Story

The vacant school is set to receive a new roof.

ADAMS, Mass. — The town was awarded $600,000 from the federal government to begin fixing Adams Memorial Middle School.

On Monday, the state announced the grant through the federal Community Development Block Grant reserved program that will fund the replacement of 34,000 square feet of roof. The town is hoping to fix up the gymnasium, auditorium and administrative office areas of the building and temporally reuse it.

Since the middle school was merged with the renovated Hoosac Valley High School, town officials entered negotiations with saucemaker Ooma Tessoro's and the Youth Center to lease that section of the building. However, the process was slowed for the town to assess the required infrastructure repairs needed for the short-term reuse.

An engineer provided estimates the town was comfortable with but the roof remained a big-ticket item. In the end, town officials hope to renovate at least some of the building and develop a long-term reuse plan; the state's contribution now provides the means to begin renovating the property.

"This grant funding will be of great benefit to the Adams community. The reuse of the school will add value, for many reasons, and importantly because it is located at the gateway to the downtown," said state Rep. Gailanne M. Cariddi in a prepared statement.

Previously Director of Community Development Donna Cesan proposed allocating $20,000 additional to hire an architect for the renovation — the first expenditure on capital repairs for the school.

"I want to thank the Patrick administration for understanding the importance of this investment in Western Massachusetts," said state Sen. Benjamin Downing in the statement. "The town deserves great credit for developing a successful application that will help reuse the building and better meet the needs of the community. I look forward to the day when the old memorial school building is a hub of community activity again."

Tags: CDBG, federal grants, school building,

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Adams Fire District Meeting Approves Full-Time Paid Chief

Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
06:55PM / Thursday, February 19, 2026

ADAMS, Mass. — A special meeting of the Fire District overwhelmingly passed making the fire chief and clerk/treasurer appointed positions on Thursday evening.

More than 50 registered voters experienced déjà vu as they rehashed the requests to make the fire engineer and clerk/treasurer positions appointed during a meeting that lasted half and hour.

These votes will have to be confirmed at a future election.

In previous district meetings, changing the fire chief position to a paid, full-time, appointed role was controversial. Article 2 passed with a large majority in favor at the meeting, as it has in the past. However, it's failed narrowly on ballot votes.

Voter Catherine Foster said this change is long overdue, especially now that current Fire Chief John Pansecchi has announced his retirement effective May, after nine years as chief and 40 years with the department.

Following questions from voters, it was explained that the pay scale for the 40-hour position will be based on qualifications and will range between $75,000 to $111,000, not including benefits.

Based on benefits for other town employees, benefits will cost an additional of about $40,000 to $50,000.

Through the stipend, Pansecchi is getting paid roughly $30,000.

Over the past five years, the position's responsibilities and hours have increased significantly, making it nearly a full-time role on top of his existing full-time job.

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