Adams Mulls Tourism Director Post, Street Parking Permits

Police Chief Richard Tarsa asked the board about issuing permits for overnight parking.

ADAMS, Mass. — The town's first tourism director, Samantha Talora, has handed in her resignation

Chairman Arthur "Skip" Harrington on Wednesday said a personnel subcommittee will meet to discuss how to fill the post.

The position was created in December last year and Talora was hired in March. When contacted Thursday, she declined to discuss the reasons for her resignation and referred questions to Town Hall.

Interim Town Administrator Donna Cesan at Wednesday's meeting said Talora had done a lot of good for the community and will be missed.

"We are going to miss her. In a very short time she has really created a lot of energy," Cesan said. "She has done a terrific job."

Cesan said Talora was responsible for the farmers market and many of the new and reoccurring activities in town.

In other business, Police Chief Richard Tarsa suggested a new permit-driven method to handle overnight parking in the Renfrew neighborhood.

He would issue 33 permits for parking along one side of Friend Street and have the owners move the vehicles to the other side of the street at certain times to aid with snow removal.

"Because of parking being the way it is, this is an opportunity to eliminate a lot of the congestion and free up a lot of the streets so there isn’t anything in the way," Tarsa said.

He said this may be a practice to use in other parking areas throughout town if it successful.

Cesan agreed with Tarsa and said the Department of Public Works is also on board. She said the idea has been in the works for the last couple of years.

"People just don't have a place to park and some of them just park in the lot anyway," she said. "This way it will be a little more regulated, and people will get a sticker. I would like to go forward with this and use this winter as an experiment."

She said they have discussed using a $50 fee.

• The board approved the transfer of up to $35,000 from the reserve fund for legal fees. Cesan said these fees were unpredictable and have exceeded the $15,000 that was anticipated in the budget.

She said a special counsel must be paid for negotiations with two unions and three separate negotiations for new drug and alcohol policies. More funds are also needed for unexpected litigation involving the town.

She said there is $175,000 in the reserve account and this is the first transfer from it.

"If we have these bills we have to pay them," Selectman Joseph Nowak said. "I know we don't like to do it, but what choice do we have."

• Cesan reported that the Park Street project is mostly done and the line painting is expected to take place Monday or Tuesday if the weather permits. She said painting will take place late at night.

• Superintendent Kristen Gordon also met with the board to update them on the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District and the fiscal 2016 budget that is in its preliminary stages but already has a 4.7 percent increase.

Interim Town Administrator Donna Cesan fills the board in on the progress of the Park Street project.

"We are looking at ways to reconfigure and restructure to really solve these budget issues we have had in the past," Gordon said. "We are hoping this year we will have a few solid plans and then pull together and meet with the town and community members so we are working on that."

Gordon said the district's employees are aware of the budget restraints and have made sacrifices in their health insurance. She said their Preferred Provider Organizations are the lowest in Berkshire County.

The district employees are certainly aware of the budget issues in town and nobody is looking for tax increases, she said. "I'm not saying this to whine. I just want to show you the commitment of the employees."

The Soldier On supply drive for homeless veterans has started. Toiletries, shower shoes, calling cards, blankets, sheets, and towels can be dropped off at Town Hall or the Registry of Deeds or by calling Jeffrey Lefebvre at 413-743-5175.

• The winter overnight parking ban is in effect until April 1. Cars cannot be parked on the street between midnight and 7a.m.

• Town Hall will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27 and 28, for Thanksgiving.

Friday Afternoon Fire Destroys Cheshire Barn

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
04:40PM / Friday, April 03, 2026

 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — A fire on Friday afternoon destroyed a barn at 920 Sand Mill Road.

 

The building is a total loss but firefighters were able to prevent the flames from reaching another nearby barn and the house at Stoney Brook Farm. 

 

Fire Chief Thomas Francesconi said the fire was called in 12:39 p.m. by the homeowners "but it already had a foothold before they noticed it."

 

Responding firefighters found the L-shaped structure fully involved. Adams, Lanesborough, Savoy and Windsor fire companies responded and Williamstown Fire covered the station.

 

The tankers were used to transport water from a nearby brook until a pool could be set up near the scene and water pumped into it. 

 

Northern Berkshire EMS responded and one firefighter was treated at the scene and then taken to Berkshire Medical Center. 

 

Francesconi said there were no other injuries but the owners told him there were 18 chickens in the barn. The structure also had equipment and other materials in it, including a Jeep.