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Adams Selectmen to Look Into Russell Field Project

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — The Selectmen are going to review the status of the Russell Field renovation project.
 
During a short Selectmen's meeting on Wednesday, Selectman Joseph Nowak relayed some information from the Parks Commission and said the commissioners are not happy with the condition of the field.
 
"One of their big ongoing concerns is Russell Field with the poor condition of the infield and the backstop which has a hole in it," he said. "They are very concerned about the time it is taking for the grant."
 
The Parks Commission agreed to make the Russell Field project a priority in 2014 and the town allocated funds to begin the design process. Currently, the project is still in the design phase.
 
Even though the town will eventually seek grant funds to renovate the field, Nowak said the commission would like some immediate action on the infield.
 
"They want some action to be taken now so they can correct the deficiencies on the field," Nowak said.  
 
Selectman John Duval asked that the project be put on a future agenda.
 
"We need to figure out the status of the grant," he said. "I would like to get back into that."
 
Nowak had other concerns and asked that the town seal up some of the cracks forming on Park Street.
 
"Park Street is starting to break up and we need to do something before we have a much bigger problem," he said. "I think we should look into using some kind of sealant, so we can seal the cracks before winter time."
 
Nowak's last concern was the East Road solar field and asked who is actually responsible for maintaining it. 
 
"It is overgrown there are a lot of weeds encroaching over the panels and I don't know if we are or someone else is supposed to be taking care if it," he said. "I would like to get an answer because it looks unsightly and the grass is impeding the panels."
 
Duval said he, too, did not have a clear answer but did note it was cut earlier this year. He said he will ask interim Town Administrator Donna Cesan, who was currently away.
 
The Selectmen ratified the appointment of James Hall as the Director of Public Works maintenance technician and operator 1.
 
"Mr. Hall comes to the town with considerable landscaping and landscaping design experience," Duval read from a letter from Cesan. 
 
The Selectmen also ratified the appointment of Christa Sidway as the adult services librarian at the Adams Free Library. 
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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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