ADAMS, Mass. — The Memorial Building is being eyed to possibly house a joint special education center in North County.

 

Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco told the Selectmen on Wednesday that the Northern Berkshire Shared Services Initiative wants to create a joint special education facility, possibly in the longtime vacant middle school building. 

 

"It would allow us to reactive the building and have a tenant covering utility costs," he said. "It would bring in three to five jobs right here in the downtown ... if they decide to use our building it is certainly a win for us."

 

The special education collaboration was initiated by the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District and the North Adams Public Schools, and inspired by the Berkshire Education Task Force's efforts to promote partnerships to provide services.

 

Mazzucco said the collaborative would allow participating districts to save money and provide a better service.  

 

He also told the Selectmen they may get a first look at initial numbers for the fiscal 2018 budget next meeting.

 

"The state aid numbers will be out next week that will determine where we are budget-wise," Mazzucco said. "We are still waiting on pension numbers and free cash numbers but once we know whether state aid is going up, down or staying flat that will really give us an idea."

 

He added that the town should see health insurance savings in this budget cycle of nearly $75,000 because of mandatory health insurance plan design changes through the Berkshire Health Group. 

 

Mazzucco said the selectman can also soon expect to see a capital improvement plan for next year. He said this will include paving management.

 

In other business, the Selectmen voted to renew Police Chief Richard Tarsa’s contract for another five years.

 

"The chief has done a good job, and I know our town isn't perfect but Adams is relatively still a safe community to live in and to raise a family," Selectman Joseph Nowak said. "I think we are going in the right direction."

 

Mazzucco said the new contract includes uniform allowance and salary increases.

 

"This will keep the chief’s salary roughly comparable with other communities in Berkshire County that are a similar size with similar operations," he said. "It will still be a little bit below …so it is exceptionally average even though our chief is above average."

 

The Selectmen also heard complaints from town electrical inspector D.B. Rhinemiller during public comment. Rhinemiller said he was concerned about a job posting for an electrical inspector because he already has an assistant that was sworn in by the Selectmen.

 

Mazzucco said the position is actually an alternate inspector position and the employee currently working with Rhinemiller is not officially on the books.

 

He said until the employee goes through the correct process the posting will stay online.

 

"I have explained this to you … over the years he has never made it to payroll," Mazzucco said. "Just because it has been done wrong for decades doesn't mean we can continue to do it wrong. Someone not covered by our payroll is not covered by our insurance."

 

Rhinemiller said the town clerk has a record of the employee and he understood that the employee just had to be approved by the Selectmen.

 

Mazzucco disagreed and said the employee needs to go through a specific process to meet town insurance standards. He said he needs to have a physical and his certification must be approved.

 

Rhinemiller said there was a lack of communication and he should have been kept in the loop.

 

Mazzucco agreed but said the real communication breakdown is on Rhinemiller's part. He said the inspector is sometimes impossible to contact.

 

"I agree, our building inspector tried to get in touch with you numerous time and since you are bringing it up, there has been complaints from the public that they can't get in touch with you," Mazzucco said. "You need to communicate with your supervisor and he communicates with me. That's how things work."

 

Rhinemiller said he was only aware of one complaint.

 

Mazzucco said they plan to hold a meeting next week to figure everything out.