Adams Gets Green Communities Check, Changes Town Hall Hours

ADAMS, Mass. – The town has gotten a big payback for going green: $166,865 Green Communities check from the state to undergo clean energy and energy efficiency projects.

Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco presented the "big check" to the Selectmen at Wednesday's meeting.

The state designated 19 cities and towns last December as new "Green Communities." On Friday, Gov. Charlie Baker awarded $1,087,505 for six towns in Western Massachusetts, including Adams, Egremont ($138,570) and Stockbridge ($137,880).

Some 155 communities in the state have become Green Communities under the program. As a Green Community, municipalities commit to reducing municipal energy consumption by 20 percent over five years. Adams began working toward green designation a couple years ago.

Mazzucco said the town's first project will be to switch out downtown and park lighting with LED bulbs.

Signs indicating that Adams is a Green Community will also be hung in town.

The Selectmen voted to change Town Hall hours to 8:30 to 5 Monday through Wednesday and 8:30 to 6 on Thursday starting March 14.

Changing the work week from five days to four days is to save a few thousand dollars in energy costs.

"Any little bit of money we can save is better for the community," Selectman Joseph Nowak said.

Mazzucco said Friday seems to be Town Hall's slowest day. He said employees would still work the same amount of hours.

the new hours will be on a trial basis for six months; adjustments will be made depending on patron flow and reaction.

"We may find that a lot of people make use of the later time or we may find that we have to open earlier," Mazzucco said.

He added that when taxes, nomination papers, or things of the like are due on a Friday, accommodations will be made.

Chairman Richard Blanchard noted that many have voiced concern over the change on social media. He urged worried citizens to drop off their concerns in the suggestion box in Town Hall.

In other business, Police Chief Richard Tarsa announced that the Police Athletic League will continue under the leadership of Officer Gregory Charon. The league had been suspended last week.

"There has been a huge outreach of support from community members, parents, coaches, and former players that are now adults reaching out and wanting to assist in some way," Tarsa said. "PAL will continue, and it is not ceasing to exist ... the rest of the season will be played out. Then we will concentrate on next year."

• Administrative Assistant Deborah Dunlap, who ran the farmers market, announced that a group of Adams residents has offered to run it. The town decided last week that it could no longer run the market.

Ashley Priester, Kelly Field and Glen Field posted on Facebook that they would take over the market.

• Mazzucco, once again, urged residents to stop flushing baby wipes down the toilet to prevent damage to the waste-water infrastructure.  

"We are beginning to trace some of the neighborhoods where it is coming from, and we may get to the point where we have to fine people because it costs us quite a bit of money," he said. "I know it sounds stupid but it wreaks havoc on our system."

He said a waste-water employee has to flush out the wipes from the catch trays at the main junction of the plant two to three times a day.

• The new Russell Field skating rink will open for the first time this Friday at 2 p.m.

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