Five Running For Selectman in Adams

ADAMS, Mass. — The race for the Board of Selectmen is on with five candidates vying for two seats this May.

Up for election is a three-year term currently held by John Duval and a second three-year term that was vacated with the resignation of Arthur "Skip" Harrington last year.

James Bush, Heather Marie Cachat, Wayne Piaggi and Donald Sommer will be on the ballot this year.

The two highest vote-getters will win the seats and at least one of the challengers will be seated. However, it won't necessarily be a new face as Sommer has previously served on the board. He served one-term but failed to win re-election in 2010 and 2013. 

There are no other races on the ballot this year and although there are some new faces running, they are running unopposed.

Mike Mucci Jr. will run for the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District unopposed and Lisa Gazaille will run for the Planning Board unopposed.

There are three open seats on the Parks Commission. Incumbent James Fassell will run for re-election and newcomers Cynthia Bird and Jacob Levesque will run for the remaining two seats.

Erica Girgenti will run for the Housing Authority unopposed and Jacob Levesque will run for the redevelopment authority unopposed.

All other positions will be filled by incumbents running unopposed.  

Candidates have until April 4 to withdraw and the election is May 7.

Adams Town Meeting OKs Budget, Nixes Citizens' Petitions

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires.com
07:30PM / Monday, June 22, 2026

The annual town report was dedicated to retired Police Chief Richard Tarsa, above. 

ADAMS, Mass. — Town meeting members approved 23 of the 25 articles on the annual town meeting warrant. 

 

The gymnasium in the Memorial Building was filled with 104 town meeting members who voted to approve the authorization for a number of spending articles making up a budget of approximately $21 million during a meeting that lasted 50 minutes. 

 

Of that, members approved, Article 5, an operations budget of $10,650,057, of which $8,074,370 is made up of personnel and $2,642,107 for operating expenses. 

 

"This is a level of services budget from one year ago," Town Administrator Nicholas Caccamo said. 

 

The amounts budgeted are reflective of what it takes for an organization, pay employees, provide health insurance, and all the ancillary costs, he said. 

 

The town has not yet finalized union contract negotiations with the police and clerical unions and still has open positions. So, there will be a special town meeting in late September or early October to adjust the budget based on the salaries and health insurance.

 

The positions have been conservatively budgeted at previous rates, maintaining each staff member's prior step or grade, as if the roles were filled full time.