Reserve Police Officer Sarah Jane Dyer is sworn in Wednesday by Town Clerk Haley Meczywor. Police Chief Richard Tarsa, right, had told the board Dyer's accomplishments were extensive.
ADAMS, Mass. — The Selectmen have welcomed new Officer Sarah Jane Dyer to the Police Department.
For the second time this month, Police Chief Richard Tarsa asked the board to ratify a reserve officer and then read Dyer's extensive resume.
"Last week, I came before the board and said I needed to keep building upon our minor league team," Tarsa said Wednesday. "This evening I am here to make an addition to that team ... usually, I can wing this and just ad lib and go off of memory, but what Sarah has in her background I definitely have to read."
Tarsa said Dyer holds a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's degree in conservation law enforcement. She is a graduate of the reserve academy and the state Animal Control Certification Academy.
Dyer is also a certified nursing assistant and an emergency room technician.
The chief said she currently is pursuing a second master's degree in criminal justice with a concentration in crisis management.
"She has an extensive background and it is impressive seeing that she is only 26 years old," he said. "That is a lot of accomplishments in that time frame and I know she is eager to come to the town of Adams and we are eager to have her come aboard."
Tarsa said Dyer, a Berkshire County native, currently works as a part-time officer in Brookfield but at a full-time capacity.
The Selectmen had few questions for Dyer and Selectman Richard Blanchard only jokingly asked when was the last time she was actually able to sleep.
Selectman John Duval thanked Tarsa for bringing forth such quality candidates.
"The last appointments that you have come forward with have been great candidates and you continue to do that," he said. "We appreciate that."
The meeting was rather short and was mostly scheduled to accommodate the ratification of Dyer, however, Selectman Joseph Nowak reiterated an ongoing concern: downtown dog poop.
"I walk quite a bit there has been dog droppings right on Park Street and other parts of the town and I don't know what to do so I am just going to bring it up," Nowak said. "The best thing you can do if you see a dog owner letting a dog defecate on the sidewalk and they don't pick it up question them because it is unsightly and a health hazard."
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Adams Planning Board Cited for Open Meeting Law Violation
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — The state Attorney General's Office has determined that the Planning Board violated Open Meeting Law by continuing to deliberate on a matter after adjournment.
According to the determination, the violation occurred after adjourning the Jan. 27, 2025, meeting when three board members stayed to discuss permitting concerns for Aisling Mountain Farm, a 22-acre equestrian facility on West Road owned by Kathryn Foley.
The board was ordered to amend its meeting minutes within the next 30 days, to include a summary of the discussion that occurred after the meeting was adjourned, to certify to to the AG's Office that it has done so, and to comply with the Open Meeting Law going forward.
The ruling stems from a complaint filed by Catherine Foster on Aug. 22, 2025, alleging that the board violated the Open Meeting Law during and after its Jan. 27 meeting.
Although filed nearly seven months after the January meeting, the Attorney General's Office said it met the 30-day filing deadline because Foster did not become aware of the situation until it was raised at a July 23 Select Board meeting.
"The Open Meeting Law requires that complaints be filed within 30 days of the alleged violation, or if the alleged violation could not reasonably have been known at the time it occurred, then within 30 days of the date it should reasonably have been discovered," Assistant Attorney General Matthew Lindberg said in the determination.
"The complainant could not reasonably have discovered that the Board deliberated after adjournment of the January 27 meeting until the issue was raised during public comment at the July 23 Select Board meeting. Because the complaint was filed within 30 days of the July 23 Select Board meeting, the complaint was filed timely as to this allegation"
Hoosac Valley Middle and High School students lined the hallways with handmade signs and artwork on Monday as they welcomed local veterans with applause, high-fives, and words of appreciation during the annual Veterans Day celebration. click for more
Farm owner Kathryn Foley purchased the 22-acre property at 185 West Road in 2019 to establish an equestrian facility at the base of Mount Greylock. click for more
Senior Patrick Holland Saturday finished in fourth place to lead the Mount Greylock boys cross country team to a Western Massachusetts Class B Championship at Stanley Park. click for more
Work on the paving and sidewalk improvement project along Smith, Randall, and Cherry streets was underway and is expected to continue in the spring. click for more
In a news release posted on its website tuesday morning, the Northwestern DA said, "prosecutors determined that no criminal conduct occurred," citing Massachusetts General Law Chapter 269, section 17. click for more