Economic Development Commission Will 'Roll Out Slowly'

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Adams will roll out economic development initiatives slowly.

ADAMS, Mass. — With town meeting passing articles that allow the creation of an economic development fund and revenue streams, the economic development commission is ready to go.

Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco said during a selectmen meeting in early June that he is ready to "roll out" the initiative, "slowly."

“We are ready to move forward with the next steps of the economic development commission,” Mazzucco said. “It will let us start the process or recruiting those interested and figuring out how they want to go forward and operate.”

The board ratified the creation of the commission in June. This gives Mazzucco the right to collect letters from interest from people from Adams and outside of Adams and then appoint the 15 candidates he think will work the best on the commission.

The money the commission will use will specifically be used for economic development and will be critical for developing and advertising the town to businesses.

The committee is based on revenue streams that will stem mostly from a newly adopted local meal tax, which is anticipated to bring in near $80,000 annually.

Revenue streams from an adopted local lodging tax and $15,000 annually from a payment in lieu of taxes agreement for a solar array on East Road.

All together the fund should have $100,000 annually.


Tags: Adams,   economic development,   

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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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