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Moderator Myra Wilk leads Monday's annual town meeting. Illustrations of the proposed Greylock Glen are set up along the stage. Town meeting voted to approve the creation of a commission to oversee development and for the town to be the master tenant and developer.

Adams Town Meeting Approve All Articles on 2019 Warrant

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Longtime town meeting members were recognized for their service, including Starr Baker who has been a member for 50 years. 
ADAMS, Mass. — Town meeting approved all 30 articles on the annual warrant, including the fiscal 2020 budget of $15.8 million. 
 
It was a pretty straightforward meeting Monday night with much of the articles passing in bulk. Before running through the warrant, Town Clerk Haley Meczywor thanked town meeting members present and past.
 
"This town report is dedicated to all of you sitting in the center of the auditorium," she said. "Your service to the town is remarkable and without your commitment and dedication the town of Adams cannot function .. .you are the voice of Adams."
 
Adams has a representative form of government in which 150 town meeting members are elected by precinct to weigh the community's decisions. 
 
Meczywor said the town report is dedicated to all town meeting members and recognized those who have served continuously for more than  20, 30, and 40 years.
 
Town meeting member Starr Baker was asked to stand and Meczywor said he has continuously served for 50 years.
 
The rest of the meeting went by quickly and clocked in well under an hour.
 
There was only discussion on some of the early articles that represented the $15.8 million budget but ultimately Articles 7 through 15 achieved safe passage.
 
Article 6, which fixes the salary and compensation of all elective officers, was amended to reflect some salary increases not correctly written on the warrant. Article 28 was also amended to clarify some language having to do with rededicating the Town Common.
 
Article 10, the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District budget, was held by town meeting member John Cowie, who had questions about the assessment of $5,792,649.
 
Many of his questions centered around education, however, because the superintendent was not present at the meeting, they went unanswered.
 
The school district's Business Manager Erika Snyder did attend the meeting and was able to clarify some of the assessment mechanics.
 
Some of the larger articles such as Article 22, which amends the ACRSD agreement and changes its name to the Hoosac Valley Regional School District, passed with ease. Article 24, The special tax agreement with B&B Micro Manufacturing, also passed without pause.
 
One hundred and fifteen town meeting members attended the annual meeting, or 77 percent.
 

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Adams Parts Ways With Police Chief

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — The town has parted ways with its police chief. 
 
K. Scott Kelley "is no longer employed by the Town of Adams," according to interim Town Administrator Holli Jayko. 
 
The Board of Selectmen voted on Sept. 8 to put the police chief on a paid leave of absence but town officials have declined to answer repeated questions about the nature of the absence other than to clarify it was not a "suspension."
 
His departure follows an executive session held by the Selectmen last Wednesday to discuss a personnel matter other than professional competence, including health or discipline, or dismissal. 
 
A request for further information on whether Kelley's leaving was through resignation or termination was not provided, or whether his contract had been paid out. 
 
"The Town does not comment on personnel matters and will have no further comment on this matter at this time," responded Selectmen Chair John Duval via email on Friday. 
 
Kelley, who moved here to take the post of chief in 2021, has reportedly sold his home. 
 
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