ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Health will inspect reported debris left at the former Curtis Paper Mill.
The board heard last week from resident and Northern Berkshire Solid Waste Management District Program Coordinator Linda Cernik, who had concerns over the growing amount debris at the Howland Avenue mill.
"There are about 100 mattresses stored back there," she said. "Since August, it has been progressing and those are combustible materials."
Discussion sparked on social media last week when residents shared concerns over apparent activity at the mill.
Last year, the town pulled MJD Real Estate's operating permits. Owners Norman Dellaghelfa Jr. and Roberta Dellaghelfa, who used the facility for their trucking business, owe the town more than $450,000 in unpaid real estate and personal property taxes.
It was found that a dumpster business was storing some if its containers on the property, however, the town did not believe this to be a violation of the permit.
The Board of Health noted that the permitting issue is not under its purview but the storage of debris very well may be.
"It has not been on our radar and it has not come to us," board member Bruce Shepley said. "It's a health issue if it is solid waste and it is now on our radar."
In other business, the board also discussed the new transfer station that should be up in running by November.
"There are significant changes coming for use of the transfer station and we think they are positive," Shepley said. "It will be a better structure and I think it will help the town in many ways."
The town is overhauling the recycling center at the closed landfill on East Road to turn it into a full-service transfer station. The pay-as-you-throw system is designed to help offset the cost of the center and give residents a local trash removal option.
Cernik said much of her time has been spent up at the transfer station educating users.
"I was up there just educating the community and giving out information," she said. "People are excited ... it will be a one-stop shop."
She noted that some are concerned about brush removal and did not want to purchase a permit to bring up a single load of leaves in the fall.
Cernik said a monthly permit may be allowed so if residents are only concerned about removing trash or brush for a limited amount of time, there is a cheaper option.
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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.
The Adams Beautification group, which has been quietly sprucing up the town since 2022, hopes to bring in more members of the community during a community cleanup day scheduled for Saturday, April 27. click for more
Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School history teacher Alla Chelukhova has been selected as the April Teacher of the Month. click for more
Desroches graduated from the Police Academy on March 22 in the top tier in his class. He's currently in the field training program and assigned to Sgt. Curtis Crane.
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Michael Wynn, who was selected in January to run the center, submitted a level operating budget of $57,500 but said he could pull funding from different lines to ensure there was money for advertising this fall.
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