Adams Approves Grant Strategy to Address Memorial Building Repairs

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Community Development Director Donna Cesan laid out the town's CDBG strategy for the Selectmen's approval.

ADAMS, Mass. — The Selectmen endorsed a 2015 Community Development Block Grant Strategy that includes a new HVAC system for the Memorial School building.

Director of Community Development Donna Cesan met with Selectmen on Wednesday night with the final draft of the town's CDBG strategy.

Out of the three projects outlined in the strategy, the new heating and cooling system received the largest amount of attention. Out of the $900,000 maximum amount the town could receive, Cesan said $325,000 would go toward construction and $34,325 to program delivery.

The town recently used grant funds to replace the former middle school roof. Although the building has been lightly used throughout the summer and fall, a new HVAC system is crucial if the town wants to fully utilize the building.  

Cesan stressed that the new system would be an energy-efficient heating and ventilation system that would provide operational savings for the town. She said she has been in conversation with Berkshire Gas and National Grid about the building's efficiency and said they may fund some of the installation.

Many supporters of the Youth Center, which has shown an interest in leasing the building, asked for the Selectmen's continued support of the project during the public hearing.

Youth Center board member Edmund St. John IV said that with continued support, the building could be both an asset for the town's youth and residents.

"This building could be used for many different uses, but especially as a true community center that would reach out to all members of our community and provide a safe and secure location for everybody to enjoy educational services as well as recreational services," St. John said.

He said it would be advantageous for the town to lease the center a part of the building because then the organization could focus on selling or putting to use to the old the old youth center.

Resident Cynthia Bird said she has a child who uses the Youth Center and the Memorial building would allow it to expand programming.

"They have been broadening the activities they do offer the children, but the space that they are using is not feasible," Bird said. "The kids are outgrowing it."

Selectman Joseph Nowak said the project continues to be a priority, but he wants to be sure the nonprofit Youth Center can afford it.

"You need to be able to prove ... that you have the capital to go ahead and maintain the building if it is given to you," Nowak said. "I'll do anything I can to help move that project along but there has to be financial viability within the group to be able to anchor that building."

Chairman Arthur "Skip" Harrington said that discussion will happen when the selectmen have to approve the lease agreement.

The only uncertainty toward the project came from town meeting member Jeffrey Lefebvre, who wanted to know "who was telling the truth" when it came to the actual condition of the building. He asked why the original assessment said the building was structurally in bad shape and the newer one said it was in surprisingly good shape.

Harrington said the original evaluation was done by the school district and not by the town. He added the building must meet different requirements to be used as a school. He explained that the second assessment focused on general assembly and dealt with different standards. He also said the school has limited funding sources and cannot tap into many of the state and federal funds that the town is using to renovate the building.

"That evaluation that was done then doesn't necessarily mean someone was lying. It means they were evaluating it for different things," Harrington said. "We were looking for different answers then they were looking for, and we had different resources to address the issues that were found."

Selectman John Duval agreed with Harrington and said the town could not afford to bring the middle school up to code.

"The amount of money for the town to bring that building up to code to meet state educational requirements was much more than it costs us at this point to pay for the renovation of the high school," Duval said.

The selectmen agreed that the project has been a priority since its inception, however, it takes a while to complete the project using grants so it does not affect taxes.

Cesan said, if funded, the project could go out to bid in late summer or early fall and would take 40 to 60 days to complete.

Cesan said the largest project in the strategy is the continued housing rehabilitation initiative. She said $354,000 would be used to rehabilitate a goal of 12 houses in the new target area, the entrance to town coming in from North Adams.

Some $85,675 will be set aside for program delivery.

The housing rehabilitation program prioritizes historical buildings, homes that contain hazardous materials such as lead, homes in the target area, and property owners ready to go through the process.

Low- to moderate-income homeowners can apply for the program.

The Adams Visitor Center parking lot is the last project in the program. Cesan said $65,000 will be used to hire an engineer to survey the area and create bid-ready plans.

"This facility needs to be reconstructed," Cesan said. "The pavement is cracking, it's heaving, the trees in the center island are way overgrown and the roots are starting to lift pavement, and there are also access and drainage issues."

She said the plans will put the town on track to receive funding for the parking lot construction in the next CDBG cycle.

Cesan said $36,000 will be used for general administration.

She concluded by saying the funding is competitive and Adams may only receive funding for some of the projects.


Tags: Adams Memorial Middle School,   CDBG,   

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Adams Sees No Races So Far

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — With less than a week left before nomination papers are due, there are currently no contested seats.
 
Only selectman incumbent John Duval has returned papers. Selectman Howard Rosenberg has decided not to seek re-election. 
 
Rosenberg, who was elected in 2021, said he has chosen not to run again to make room for younger candidates.
 
"I feel strongly, we need younger people running for public office,  as the future of our town lies within the younger  generation. The world is so fundamentally different today and rapidly changing to become even more so. I believe we need people who are less interested in trying to bring back the past, then in paving the way for a promising future. The younger generation can know that they can stay here and have a voice without having to leave for opportunities elsewhere," he said.
 
The only person to return papers so far is former member the board Donald Sommer. Sommer served as a selectman from 2007 to 2010 and before that was a member of the School Committee and the Redevelopment Authority. He ran unsuccessfully for selectman in 2019 and again in 2021 but dropped out of before the election.
 
Incumbent Moderator Myra Wilk and Town Clerk Haley Meczywor have returned papers for their respective positions.
 
Assessor Paula Wheeler has returned papers and incumbents James Loughman and Eugene Michalenko have returned papers for library trustees.
 
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