ADAMS, Mass. — The Selectmen on Wednesday ratified the hiring of two reserve police officers to add to the growing department.
Police Chief Richard Tarsa told the board that he was happy to bring on reserve Officers Danielle Cartier and Nicholas Sorrell.
"As chief, this is one of the best parts of the job: When I can welcome new employees," Tarsa said. "It is always good to find people with enthusiasm who want to come forward and join the ranks."
The town has had a hard time in recent years attracting and retaining officers because of limitations set by Civil Service. In 2017, the town dissolved its agreement with Civil Service and since then has regularly brought on new officers and reserve officers.
Tarsa said both Cartier and Sorrell are graduates of the reserve/intermittent academy and come from solid backgrounds that will aid them in law enforcement.
"We found in their interviews that their answers were very, very good. Both presented an eagerness and enthusiasm," Tarsa said. "They are both community-policing orientated and want to be active in the community."
Before the unanimous vote, Chairman John Duval welcomed the two to the community.
"You both have chosen Adams and that impresses me and makes me feel good about this community that we have individuals like yourselves," Duval said. "We are very fortunate to have both of you."
Tarsa said because the town clerk was not present they would have to swear in the officers later this week.
"The sooner we can get them on board the sooner we can get them into a position," he said.
In other business, the Selectmen ratified the hiring of Tim Cota as the operations supervisor within the Department of Public Works.
"He has worked very hard over the past year and he has really focused on creating a team with the DPW employees," interim Town Administrator Donna Cesan said. "He has been involved in every aspect of the job ... I have been impressed."
In the absence of a DPW director, Cota has been the defacto director while the town continues its search.
Duval said he was impressed with how Cota handled the fall flooding.
"Tim has stepped up and has taken on a lot of those responsibilities," he said. "I am very proud of him with how he has stepped up to this leadership role."
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Adams Free Library Pastel Painting Workshops
ADAMS, Mass. — Award-winning pastel artist Gregory Maichack will present three separate pastel painting workshops for adults and teens 16+, to be hosted by the Adams Free Library.
Wednesday, April 24 The Sunflower; Wednesday, May 8 Jimson Weed; and Thursday, May 23 Calla Turned Away from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
Registration is required for each event. Library events are free and open to the public.
These programs are funded by a Festivals and Projects grant of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
This workshop is designed for participants of all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Attendees will create a personalized, original pastel painting based on Georgia O’Keefe’s beautiful pastel renditions of The Sunflower, Jimson Weed and Calla Turned Away. All materials will be supplied. Seating may fill quickly, so please call 413-743-8345 to register for these free classes.
Maichack is an award-winning portraitist and painter working primarily in pastels living in the Berkshires. He has taught as a member of the faculty of the Museum School in Springfield, as well as at Greenfield and Holyoke Community College, Westfield State, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
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Desroches graduated from the Police Academy on March 22 in the top tier in his class. He's currently in the field training program and assigned to Sgt. Curtis Crane.
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Michael Wynn, who was selected in January to run the center, submitted a level operating budget of $57,500 but said he could pull funding from different lines to ensure there was money for advertising this fall.
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The Selectmen on Wednesday night voted to award the bid to Mackin Construction Co. Inc. of Greenfield, which plans to invest $11 million to build out 20 or more one- and two-bedroom apartments in the three-story classroom wing that parallels Columbia Street.
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