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The Board of Selectmen recognize James Thompson, who is retired last week after 30 years of service to the town.

Adams Selectmen Approve Administrator Search Process

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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jADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen approved the recommended town administrator search process that it hopes to have wrapped up by April.
 
The Board of Selectmen's personnel subcommittee brought forth its recommendations Wednesday and asked the full board to approve the process which could be completed within four to six months.
 
"We are all aware that it is pretty aggressive time to search, interview and hire," Selectwoman Christine Hoyt said. "Some of the dates may change as we go through and this will act as a guide."
 
Since the departure of former Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco late last year, the personnel subcommittee has been devising a process in which to seek out and hire a new administrator.
 
With the approval, Hoyt said the actual job will be posted by the end of the week or mid next week. She said the job description itself hasn't changed from three years ago. 
 
From there a screening committee will be formed at the end of the month, which will hold its first meeting in February.
 
"They will be meeting to establish criteria and matrix and will begin reviewing applications and that would take up most of February," Hoyt said. 
 
Selectman Joseph Nowak said his only gripe with the process is the subcommittee's recommendation to have two Selectmen on the screening committee.
 
"I personally feel that we have been voted in by people in the community … and I don't think it is fair," Nowak said. "I think there are people out there who will bring us good candidates … I have faith in the people that will be on this committee and our time will come."
 
There were no selectmen on the last search committee. The board only interviewed the three finalist candidates recommended by the search committee. 
 
Hoyt said semifinalists would be selected in March and finalists would be sent to the selectmen for the interviews in April. Hoyt said if all goes as planned, they hope to have someone on the job July 1.
 
"I think this looks great and I hope we can bring great applicants," Nowak said. 
 
The town is still building a budget for the marketing and search process and it will be brought before the selectmen before the end of the month.
 
The town acknowledged wastewater treatment plant operations Supervisor James Thompson who is retiring after 30 years of service to the town.
 
"Thank you, Mr. Thompson, for your 30 years of service and the town appreciates that," Duval said. "We wish you a happy retirement."
 
Duval read from a resolution that stated that Thompson started at the plant in 1988 and has held multiple posts, including operator one and two and lab technician, in the department.
 
Thompson has gone beyond that call of duty throughout his 30-year career, he said, and is responsible for a lab procedure and equipment manual that is still in use to this day.
 
In other business, Duval said the town has received many calls about un-shoveled sidewalks and urged residents and business owners to keep their sidewalks clean.
 
"We have had a lot of calls about sidewalks not being clean and it is a bylaw in this community," he said.
 
Police Chief Richard Tarsa said people need to do their part considering the many elderly in the community.

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Adams Sees No Races So Far

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — With less than a week left before nomination papers are due, there are currently no contested seats.
 
Only selectman incumbent John Duval has returned papers. Selectman Howard Rosenberg has decided not to seek re-election. 
 
Rosenberg, who was elected in 2021, said he has chosen not to run again to make room for younger candidates.
 
"I feel strongly, we need younger people running for public office,  as the future of our town lies within the younger  generation. The world is so fundamentally different today and rapidly changing to become even more so. I believe we need people who are less interested in trying to bring back the past, then in paving the way for a promising future. The younger generation can know that they can stay here and have a voice without having to leave for opportunities elsewhere," he said.
 
The only person to return papers so far is former member the board Donald Sommer. Sommer served as a selectman from 2007 to 2010 and before that was a member of the School Committee and the Redevelopment Authority. He ran unsuccessfully for selectman in 2019 and again in 2021 but dropped out of before the election.
 
Incumbent Moderator Myra Wilk and Town Clerk Haley Meczywor have returned papers for their respective positions.
 
Assessor Paula Wheeler has returned papers and incumbents James Loughman and Eugene Michalenko have returned papers for library trustees.
 
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