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The Board of Selectmen confirmed the appointment of two police officers last week.

Adams Appoints Two More Police Officers

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Reserve Police Officer Christopher Lampiasi is introduced to the board by Chief Richard Tarsa, right, on Wednesday. 
ADAMS, Mass. — The Selectmen have approved the ratification of a new reserve officer and a special police officer.
 
The Selectmen were happy to appoint new reserve Officer Christopher Lampiasi and special Police Officer Robert Mallet to the department Wednesday.
 
New appointments have been a regular event in the past year after the town dissolved the cumbersome Civil Service that limited who the town could hire.
 
Police Chief Richard Tarsa said Lampiasi is an Adams resident. He listed some of his credentials and said he has been through the reserve academy. He currently works for Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' campus security and is a part time officer in Peru.
 
He said he has also worked as an emergency medical technician and brings this first responder experience.
 
"He brings a lot of enthusiasm .. .he is a big advocate for community policing," Tarsa said. "I firmly believe he will be an asset to the department and the town."
 
Tarsa said Mallet has worked as a provisional officer for Adams in the past and will work as a special officer which means he will only be able to work the desk, security, and traffic detail.
 
Tarsa said Mallet retired at the rank of captain after 39 years with the Berkshire County sheriff's department. 
 
He said he is up to date on all his credentials and qualifications and will be an asset to the town. 
 
"He has always given back to the community: 39 years with the sheriff's department and he has given back as a teacher and coach among other things," Tarsa said. "He is the epitome of community service and he wants to continue that as long as possible and we are excited to have him."
 
The Selectmen also appointed Natasha Bordeaux to the Conservation Commission to fill the seat vacated by Corey Bishop earlier this summer.
 
"We are happy to have someone interested because we currently have a vacancy," Hoyt said.
 
Bordeaux said she has always been interested in agriculture and, in high school, used to work on a dairy farm. She said she currently helps run Burnett farm with her fiance. 
 
"I am always interested in that stuff I am very passionate about agriculture," she said.
 
The board was happy Bordeaux stepped forward and were excited to see a younger person interested in town government.
 
Selectman Joseph Nowak requested that Bordeaux attend some of the trainings to get up to speed because of the importance of the commission and possible liabilities that can fall back on the town.
 
He did say, as a former commissioner, he would be happy to help get her up to speed.
 
Nowak also asked that the town look into developing a bylaw for mini homes.
 
"I think we have to take a quick look at that especially with premiere maker of them right in town," he said.
 

Special Police Officer Robert Mallet was confirmed by the board. 
This year, B&B Micro Manufacturing relocated to Adams at the former Brown Packaging building. The company builds high-quality mini houses.
 
Chairwoman Chirstine Hoyt said she thought it was on Community Development’s radar but Town Administrator Jay Green said he would follow up.
 
In liaison reports, Nowak said he attended a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting and said an application for a proposed organic coffee shop on Commercial Street has been withdrawn.
 
He said the owners indicated that they were not prepared to begin renovations — specifically in the bathrooms.
 
The zoning board tabled the application without prejudice just in case the applicants want to pick up the project again.
 
Nowak did add that the ZBA is in need of members and is short at least one full member.
 
Hoyt added that the Board of Health is also in need of a new member because Bruce Shepley has resigned.
 
"He has served since 2015 and has done so very well," she said. "His service on the board will be missed"
 
Hoyt said his term would have run out in 2021 and the town needs to figure out how to appoint another member.
 
She noted Shepley still plans to serve in other capacities on other town boar ds and commissions he is involved with. 

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Adams Review Library, COA and Education Budgets

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — The Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen reviewed the public services, Hoosac Valley Regional School District and McCann Technical School budgets on Tuesday. 
 
The workshop at the Adams Free Library was the third of four joint sessions to review the proposed $19 million fiscal 2025 budget. The first workshop covered general government, executive, finance and technology budgets; the second public works, community development and the Greylock Glen. 
 
The Council on Aging and library budgets have increases for wages, equipment, postage and software. The Memorial Day budget is level-funded at $1,450 for flags and for additional expenses the American Legion might have; it had been used to hire bagpipers who are no longer available. 
 
The COA's budget is up 6.76 percent at $241,166. This covers three full-time positions including the director and five regular per diem van drivers and three backup drivers. Savoy also contracts with the town at a cost of $10,000 a year based on the number of residents using its services. 
 
Director Sarah Fontaine said the governor's budget has increased the amount of funding through the Executive Office of Elder Affairs from $12 to $14 per resident age 60 or older. 
 
"So for Adams, based on the 2020 Census data, says we have 2,442 people 60 and older in town," she said. "So that translates to $34,188 from the state to help manage Council on Aging programs and services."
 
The COA hired a part-time meal site coordinator using the state funds because it was getting difficult to manage the weekday lunches for several dozen attendees, said Fontaine. "And then as we need program supplies or to pay for certain services, we tap into this grant."
 
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