ADAMS, Mass. — Tony Mazzucco attended his final Selectmen's meeting on Wednesday and was met with applause for his service to the town. 

 

The town administrator has taken the post of general manager of Norwood and is leaving to move closer to where he grew up.

 

"It's not an easy job ... and Tony I just want to thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done for this community," Selectman Joseph Nowak said. "I just wish you the best and you are a bright young person and you have a good future ahead of you."

 

The rest of the board also had kind words for Mazzucco, who they felt had straightened out the town's finances.

 

"I want to thank him for his service over the past three years," Chairman John Duval said. "We have been through some tough decisions and you made some good financial changes. I wish you the best of luck." 

 

Mazzucco was hired almost exactly a year ago and selected over finalists Richmond Town Administrator Matthew Kerwood, now Pittsfield's director of finance and administration, and Brewster Selectmen Chairman James Foley, who still sits on that board.

 

His tenure was bumpy at times and he earned kudos for his budgeting work and support for the growing arts and recreation community but also apparently rubbed a number of people the wrong way, particularly over the elementary school battle that ended with Adams' Plunkett School remaining open. The number of comments of those wishing him well or good riddance were pretty evenly matched in Facebook comments.

 

Norwood's general manager is retiring Dec. 1 after 39 years in the post and officials in Norwood were hoping Mazzucco could start as soon as possible. His last day in the office is Nov. 30 and he will take some accrued time to be officially done on Dec. 4, the end of his three-year contract.

 

The Selectmen have not yet made plans about how to replace him although it is expected that Community Development Director Donna Cesan will once again be tapped for the interim. She stepped in for about six months between Jonathan Butler's departure and the hiring of Mazzucco.

 

Mazzucco thanked the Selectmen and the community members who worked beside him over the years.

 

And ever concerned about the gumming up the works, his last words were, "stop flushing wipes down the toilets."

  

In other business, the Selectmen appointed Francie Riley to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

 

"I want to thank anyone that steps up and asks for an appointment to be on a board in our community we have a lot of openings on a lot of boards and we know as Selectmen making hard decision you aren't always the most popular," Nowak said. 

 

Riley served as an alternate on the board for two years now and said she wants to help improve the town, so all can succeed.

 

"If we don't make smart decisions moving forward with planning and zoning in our town and if that doesn't move forward in a positive way, everyone will lose," she said. "A high tide raises all boats so If I can help raise the water level that's a good thing."

 

There is still an open seat on the ZBA and the Conservation Commission and the Selectmen asked that anyone interested in the seats should fill out an application online.

 

Nowak said both boards are very important because their decisions could cause possible legal action against the town.

 

"These committees are important and when decisions are made it is possible if they aren't crafted properly there could be ramifications for the community," he said. 

 

The Selectmen received a certificate from the Massachusetts Agricultural Fairs Association that stated the Aggie Fair won a first-place award for its Park Street banners.

 

"We are proud to be the only agricultural fair left in all of Berkshire County," Nowak, who co-founded the fair, said. "It is hard to keep going."