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The town of Adams sold 12 properties taken for back taxes.

Adams Sells Dozen Properties at Public Auction

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Bidder picked up some bargains at the town's tax sale on Thursday night. 
ADAMS, Mass. — The town sold all 12 properties up for auction on Thursday and regained $82,000 in outstanding bills.
 
"I got rid of them all so I am happy," Treasurer/Tax Collector Kelly Rice said. "We had 12 and they all went, which means we don't have to bring them back and they can go back on the tax roll."
 
Auctioneers Sullivan & Sullivan ran the public auction at the Adams Visitors Center. The properties were taken for back taxes and auctioned to recoup some of those losses. 
 
The highest seller was a Center Street rowhouse (69-75 Center St.) that was sold for $25,000. The property, which was assessed for $105,300, had only one bidder who raised his bid to meet the minimal amount the town would take.
 
One of the few bidding battles was over 10-12 Richmond St., which sold for $23,500. The 2,840 square-foot two-family home was assessed at $119,500 with bidding starting at $16,000.
 
The town sold 87 Orchard St. for $16,000. The 1,882 square-foot home, assessed at $136,800, had to be revisited because bidders were unable to meet a minimum price.  
 
A lot of the smaller homes took some coaxing but hesitant bidders raised their cards and purchased them for well below their assessed values. 
 
A house at 2 Valley St. sold for $6,500. The 1,310 square-foot home was assessed at $88,100.
 
A two-family at 23-25 Albert St. assessed at $44,600 sold for $3,000.  
 
A building at 35 Richmond Lane sold for even less at $2,500. The 1,576 square-foot home was assessed at $67,500.
 
A 1,664 square-feet house at 18 Victory St., which was assessed at $73,100, also sold for $2,500.
 
Another house at 7 Grove St., which was assessed at $70,800, sold for only $1,000.  
 
Two buildable plots of land were also sold and both 20-22 Melrose St. and a Bucklin Road lot sold for $1,000 apiece.
 
All buyers had to place a $5,000 deposit on houses and $500 on vacant lots.

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Adams Community Bank Holds Annual Meeting, Announce Growth

ADAMS, Mass. — The annual meeting of the Community Bancorp of the Berkshires, MHC, the parent company of Adams Community Bank, was held on April 10, 2024, at Charles H. McCann Technical School in North Adams.
 
The meeting included reviewing the 2023 financial statements for the Bank, electing directors and corporators, and highlighting upcoming executive personnel changes.
 
"In 2023, the Bank experienced another year of growth in assets, loans, and deposits, noting the Pittsfield branch reached $26 million in customer deposits from its opening in December of 2022," President and CEO of Adams Community Bank Charles O'Brien said. "Those deposits were loaned out locally during 2023 and helped drive our #1 ranking in both mortgage and commercial real estate lending, according to Banker and Tradesman."
 
At year-end 2023, total assets were $995 million, and O'Brien noted the Bank crossed the $1 billion threshold during the first quarter of 2024.
 
Board chair Jeffrey Grandchamp noted with O'Brien's upcoming retirement, this will be the final annual meeting of the CEO's tenure since he joined the Bank in 1997. He thanked him for his 27 years of dedication to the Bank. He acknowledged the evolution of the Bank as it became the premier community bank in the Berkshires, noting that branches grew from 3 to 10, that employees grew from 40 to 135, and that assets grew from $127 million to $1 billion. 
 
An executive search is underway for O'Brien's replacement.
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