Adams Selectmen Recognize Town Employees
 Retired Library Director Deborah Bruneau, posing with Selectmen Joseph Nowak, left, Richard Blanchard and Skip Harrington, was recognized for her service to the town. |
ADAMS, Mass. — The Selectmen recognized Library Director Deborah Bruneau and Town Accountant Mary Beverly for their service to the town
The board on Wednesday approved a resolution recognizing the service of the recently retired Bruneau, who has served the town for more than 23 years. She most recently oversaw the renovation of the historic Adams Free Library.
"I think our library is a treasure and that was one of the best votes I took when we gave permission to upgrade it," Selectman Joseph Nowak said. "I know you have been pushing it for a long time and your persistence paid off. I am truly going to miss you and I wish you the best of luck."
Bruneau thanked the selectmen and said she looks fondly over her time in the Library.
"It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Adams. Adams has an architectural gem in that building, and ... I can't thank the trustees and the town enough for working cooperatively," Bruneau said. "It has always been a team effort and the town has that beautiful building that houses a wonderful collection."
Beverly was recognized for excellence in public service.
Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco explained she went "above and beyond" her duty earlier this year by helping a local business owner who was erroneously paying a lodging tax. Beverly convinced the Department of Revenue that the business was unfairly taxed and the state refunded $7,000 in overpaid taxes.
Selectman Arthur "Skip" Harrington applauded Beverly and other staff members who are assets to the town.
"I think it is great that we have many great town employees and it is wonderful to be able to recognize one of our very best," he said. "Mary Beverly does a lot of hard work for a lot of people and she is very dedicated."
In other business, Police Chief Richard Tarsa told the board the department would hold its first "Coffee With A Cop" on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Daily Grind.
He said Officer Travis Cunningham approached him with the idea and will host the first session.
"So anybody wishing to attend feel free to stop by," Tarsa said. "If you have any questions he will try to answer them and if he can't he will get the answer for you."
Trasa added that officers will run a forensics science program with Hoosac Valley sixth- and seventh-graders.
Officer Gregory Onorato, who spearheaded the program when he was part of the North Adams Police force, will be instrumental in the program.
Tarsa said students will be shown how the Special Response Team works, how a field sobriety test is conducted, how to lift and analyze fingerprints, accident reconstruction, crime scene investigation, and much more.
He said there will also be tours of the police station and Northern Berkshire District Court. At the end of the program, they will gather evidence and present it in court.
"It will give the kids basically a taste of what law enforcement and the court system is like," Tarsa said. "It gives us the ability to connect with the kids at a vulnerable age and try to steer them in the right direction."
 Town Account Mary Beverly was recognized for her public service, especially on behalf of a local business owner. |
Mazzucco requested that the Selectmen vote to table a request by the electrical inspector for a fee increase. He said the town does have to update fees, however, he would prefer to address all town fees together after staff has been able to look at everything.
He added that there are communication issues to resolve with the current inspector.
Resident Francie Anne Riley said it took her nine weeks to finally make contact with the inspector and schedule a 12-minute wire inspection. She said it took many attempts by her and two calls from the building inspector to finally get a hold of him.
Riley felt the inspector did not deserve an increase.
"I am insulted and appalled that he has the audacity to ask for more money to do a job that he refuses to do unless he is cornered and tricked into it," Riley said.
Nowak agreed that nine weeks was an unacceptable amount of time and requested that the Selectmen meet with the inspector before any action is taken
"It should not take that long for someone once they are called and if a person can't get to a job in eight weeks I think there needs to be a reasoning for it," Nowak said.
• Assessor Donna MacDonald requested that the Selectmen vote to reaffirm approval of the tax classification accepted at the last meeting. She explained that because of an error in some of the paperwork that lead to late filing, the Department of Pevenue requested a revote.
• Mazzucco said he has been in communications with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in regard to hiring some interns for the town administrators office.
Nowak said he liked the town was making connections with the college.
"I think it's a good idea," he said. "I think that is a good bridge to connect with and students of that age look at things a little differently than we do and I always value their thought and suggestions."
• There will be free holiday parking in Adams from Nov. 27 until Dec. 31.
• The Harvest Market will take place Nov. 14 from 9 to 3 at the Memorial Building.
• There will be another strategic planning session at Hoosac Valley Nov. 14 at 10 a.m.
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