Adams Selectmen Thank Harrington For Service
ADAMS, Mass. — The Selectmen took time during Wednesday night's meeting to thank departing colleague Arthur "Skip" Harrington for his eight years of service.
Harrington resigned from the board earlier this week, leaving two years into his third three-year term.
Chairman Jeffrey Snoonian said he spent a lot of time with Harrington before he himself became a selectman and learned a lot from him over the years.
"I know that I learned a great deal from Skip ... and I was very fortunate to have him sitting next to me," Snoonian said. "Anyone who has done this job for even a short amount of time knows how much it can be and eight years is a lot of time to dedicate yourself. It is a real personal sacrifice."
Selectman John Duval said he hopes the town can keep Harrington involved.
"He’s a good man, a good family and he has given his service to the community for eight-plus years," Duval said. "I am hoping we can keep him engaged … because he is an asset to this community."
Selectman Joseph Nowak said he sent Harrington a heartfelt letter asking him to reconsider and wished him the best of luck.
"I just wish Skip and his family the very best and god bless him," Nowak said.
Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco said Harrington was a fixture in Town Hall and will be missed.
"I don't think people realize how much Skip was here and how much he was in the office and doing stuff," Mazzucco said. "He was a regular presence here and we are certainly going to miss him."
Harrington was first elected in 2009 and said he decided to leave the board for personal reasons.
During public comment, resident Jeffrey Lefebvre said he was concerned that the Agricultural Fair is not spending the $5,000 town meeting usually gives it every year to make improvements to Bowe Field. He also was concerned that what they do spend the money on is not what the town approves.
"They do a tremendous job but from what I understand they are not turning around and spending their money on what they are supposed to spend money on," he said. "When you ask questions, you aren't getting any straight answers."
Aggie Fair Board member Wayne Piaggi said he, too, has concerns and had brought the issue to the rest of the board. He said although the board believes all paperwork is up to date, after calling the state, he found that the Aggie Fair is behind on paperwork and is at risk of losing its 501(c)3 nonprofit status.
Usually, a citizen's petition brings the warrant article to town meeting, however, Mazzucco said this year the amount will be built into the budget as a free cash capital item. He said this will create more accountability.
"They will have to submit a receipt for what they have done and we will reimburse them so we aren't just cutting them a check," Mazzucco said. "This way we know every dollar that goes out."
The select board said they would get some answers.
In other business, the board hired Jean Rice as the grants programs manager in the Community Development Department.
Mazzucco said Rice has been on board for some time now as a fiscal assistant and was the best candidate out of a round of interviews
"We looked in-house and she has bene doing great," Mazzucco said. "She has helped out in the building inspections office, she has helped me with a few things, she is a quick study and we are looking forward to bumping her up."
There will be a BagShare drop-in from noon to 4 on Saturday and Sunday at the Fire House Café. The town is recruiting volunteers to create 8,400 recycled shopping bags in response to the plastic-bag ban at the end of March.
Tags: Aggie Fair, resignation,
