Civic Club Considers Adams Taxpayers Association Revival
 Alfred Diesz speaks to the Maple Grove Civic Club about town spending. |
ADAMS, Mass. — Members of the Maple Grove Civic Club will consider resurrecting the former Adams Taxpayers Association within the Civic Club structure, after hearing from proponents Alfred Diesz and John Cowie on Sunday.
"Taxes in town have consistently been going up, and I don't see it letting up," said club Vice President Jeff Lefebvre as he introduced the speakers. Lefebvre contended that property owners cannot afford to pay taxes and maintain their homes, leading to blight.
Diesz said the Adams Taxpayers Association was a "hard-working organization" 15 to 20 years ago, investigating spending by the town. In advocating for re-creating the ATA, he said "You need people who are willing to dig it out" and analyze spending proposals.
"If you want a vibrant ATA, you need to get people to be town meeting members," Diesz said. "You have to become almost a zealot because the other side is packed with zealots."
Diesz, who has served as a town meeting member, on the Adams-Cheshire Regional School Committee and on the Adams Finance Committee, said, "If you live in Adams and pay taxes, you should have a vested interest in what happens" with tax money. He specifically criticized the town's efforts to re-use the Adams Memorial Middle School, claiming the "Selectmen have selective amnesia."
John Cowie, an Adams native who left the area but moved his family back to the town in the late 1980s, read from the bylaws of the ATA in 1969, noting that it was created to promote "non-partisan interest in, and the study of" government agencies as their activities affect taxpayers. Cowie said his experience as a town meeting member is that town departments "come in and tell you where they're going to spend" but argued they are not focused on efficiency.
"Do you hear town departments talking about what they can do to be more efficient?" he asked.
Jan Rogge of Adams, during discussion, said Diesz and Cowie outlined problems that are widespread, and asked "what is your proposed solution?" Cowie responded by pointing to Boston and Washington, saying "They're not going to adopt business-friendly policies."
Joseph Rogge, a former superintendent of the North Adams school system, noted that education reform and state and federal mandates have removed much of the power local boards once had over spending.
"Times have changed," said Rogge. "Schools have no choice but to do certain things."
Cowie asked if the Civic Club would consider creating a taxpayers' association within the club's existing structure. Lefebvre said the group can study its bylaws to see if that's possible, and bring it back for discussion at a future meeting.
The civic club meets the third Sunday of the month at 3 p.m. at the Polish National Alliance. It is seeking new members from Adams and surrounding communities.
Tags: Maple Grove Civic Club, property taxes,
