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Adams Board of Health May Enhance Signage at Transfer Station

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — The town will pursue a state recycling program that will provide it with better signage to promote the transfer station.
 
Board of Health member David Rhoads told the rest of the board last week that he recently attended the Mass Recycling Center Workshop where he was updated on initiatives available to communities to help promote recycling.
 
"They discussed the promotion of recycling within a town," he said. "Effective recycling and reduction of trash as well as signage."
 
The town reopened its recycling center as a full transfer station last year. Town officials have said they want to advertise the transfer station and attract more users.
 
Rhoads said this program could provide signage to help with this endeavor and also make the station more user-friendly.
 
"We can also get signage for the transfer station so that is something that we can apply for," he said. "Our transfer station is in need of some direction and instruction."
 
In other business, the board heard from resident Bill Martischnig who had concerns about what's left of 60 Maple St.
 
"It is all wide open and nothing is fenced off from the sidewalk or passers-by," Martischnig said. "Stuff falls off the roof when the wind blows … it's all wide open on top and you can see stuff moving up there."
 
Both Adams and Cheshire firefighters responded to the April fire that engulfed the century-old four-unit building. The fire forced out three families and killed at least three pets. 
 
Code Enforcement Officer Thomas Romaniak said the town cannot really do anything until the insurance companies complete their findings.
  
"I am sure something will be done but we can't do anything until the insurance companies finish," he said. "It still may be tied up in that."
 
Board of Health member Bruce Shepley added that the property actually falls under the building inspector's purview.
 
"I feel that we always pass the buck, but we can't speak on behalf of the building department," he said. "Our issues of safety are different."
 
The board moved through new and current cases and although they were able to close quite a few cases, Romaniak said he still has to figure out who dumped trash on a vacant lot on the corner of Melrose Street and Marmon Street.
 
"The guy that came in said someone was moving out and they just dumped there," he said. "I am trying to get a hold of the owner of the lot even though it is not his stuff. I am going to try to figure out who did it the best I can."
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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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