ADAMS, Mass. — The town awarded the demolition bid of 50 Commercial St. to American Environmental and plans to have the property torn down as soon as possible.
Interim Town Administrator Donna Cesan told the Selectmen last week that the demolition bid was awarded to the Holyoke company for $66,000.
"The town is able to award this contract and the town has worked with American Environmental in the past," she said. "They did a very good job for us, so we are very pleased the bids came in as they did."
Late last year, the town deemed the building unsafe and ordered owner Charles Ransford do demolish it within 30 days. He did not do this, so the town will demolish it.
Cesan said American Environmental was the lowest bidder out of seven. The other bids were all more than $100,000 with the highest being $153,000.
Cesan said the town has funds allocated for the demolition along with some unused funds from slum and blight removal. The century-old building sits at the south entrance to the downtown on heavily traveled Route 8.
Initially, officials were concerned that the bids would come in far above the $60,000 allocated for the demolition because of the inability to actually enter the building and conduct asbestos abatement. The entire building must be treated as hazardous and shipped away.
Cesan said a lien will be placed on the property. She added that Ransford also owes taxes on the property and the town may look at taking it after conducting a contamination study.
Ransford recently purchased the gas station next to Hoosac Valley Elementary School – a property the town looked at acquiring to expand parking at the school.
Selectman Joseph Nowak asked if Ransford would be able to open up a business there.
"I have recently seen him going into the garage section with tools," he said. "I don't know how this works but I don't think it is very fair that a gentleman can start a business after his record in this community."
Town Counsel Edmund St John III said without knowing specifics, he could not say for sure but believed the permitting process would be difficult for Ransford.
"There will be be a few hoops he has to jump through with permits ... there are a lot of things I think would have to be done," he said. "Then there is that sticky issue of not having paid his taxes."
In other business the Selectmen approved the Town Administrator Search Committee charged with looking over applications and selecting finalists to be interviewed by the selectmen.
Selectwoman Christine Hoyt said the personnel subcommittee recommended Teresa Daignault, co-owner and CFO of Adams Plumbing and Heating; Paul Goyette, teacher and former fire chief; Jeff Grandchamp, attorney and former search committee member; George Haddad, former selectman, interim town administrator, search committee member and business owner; and Leah Thompson, director of development at Berkshire Arts and Technology Public Charter School.
"I will be in touch with all of them very soon," Hoyt said.
The Selectmen also addressed a recent issue at the transfer station. A few Saturdays ago, the station had to close early because all of the bins were full.
"The bins were overflowing and a decision was made by the DPW that the best solution at the time would be to close," Chairman John Duval said. "In my opinion, it should not have closed and shame on us."
Cesan said the hauler was contacted and the town will work out a more regular pick up schedule.
She added it may be beneficial to have an auxiliary bin available for similar situations.
She reiterated that the Transfer Station is still fairly new and there are still improvements that need to be made.
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Suspect in High-Speed Adams Chase Arrested
ADAMS, Mass. — A suspect test-driving a pickup truck who led police on a wild high-speed chase on Tuesday was arrested in Adams early Wednesday morning.
The incident began at about 11:41 a.m. on Tuesday when an officer conducted a motor vehicle stop on Howland Avenue. During the stop, the operator was positively identified and was determined to have a suspended license. When ordered out of the vehicle, he fled, said police, leading law enforcement on a multijurisdictional pursuit toward the town of Florida.
A number of people posted about seeing the black pickup truck enter the Walmart parking lot; a video shows the driver surrounded by cruisers as they try to exit the parking lot at the light. Witnesses say the pickup backed into cruiser to get around the block.
The driver headed up West Shaft Road and toward Florida with Adams and North Adams Police in pursuit. The pursuit was called off at the city line.
The suspect was able to elude police but his vehicle was found abandoned in a remote location in the Savoy State Forest. It was later learned this vehicle was being test driven from a local auto dealer. With the assistance of the State Police Airwing, K9 Unit and drone unit, officers canvased the wilderness for the suspect but were unsuccessful.
Officers received information at about 3:14 a.m. on Wednesday that the suspect was in the area of Glen Street. Police say he fled on foot as officers secured a perimeter.
K9 Adam and his handler Sgt. Curtis Crane began an area search. K9 Adam was able to locate the suspect hiding in a back yard, but the suspect again ran — straight into officers on the perimeter who took him into custody.
The suspect faces a litany of charges pending from the previous day's encounter as well as the early morning contact with officers. Additional charges are pending as well from North Adams Police Department and their involvement in the apprehension.
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