Adams Selectmen Approves Hoosac Station Agreement
The Selectmen ratified an agreed with the Berkshire Scenic Railway to use the refurbished Adams Station.
The Selectmen voted on Wednesday to accept a memorandum of agreement with the nonprofit railway that formalized the two parties' relationship in terms of the town-owned building on Hoosac Street.
"The town now has been working cooperatively with Berkshire Scenic for really the past three years with the construction of the rail line into downtown Adams," Director of Community Development Donna Cesan said. "We have been working on how we can use the Adams Station ... as the southern terminus and function as a true train station."
The town purchased the former car wash several years ago and secured a $400,000 state Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities grant to renovate the exterior of the structure that now serves as the scenic railway's terminus.
The interior of the station will be renovated and would house a ticket counter and a small museum.
"We are getting closer to fitting the space," Cesan said. "The grounds look good, the exterior looks good but it is not fully functional because its interior space is raw."
Currently, tickets are purchased in the Visitors Center across the street.
Much of the details were hashed out during a workshop meeting late last year. Larger, more permanent capital projects in the building would be covered and owned by the town. Smaller movable improvements such as display cabinets or the ticket counter would be owned by the museum.
The museum would also cover day-to-day operations and maintenance.
Currently, the interior museum is in the design phase and funding will be needed. However, the agreement does open the project up for more grant-funding opportunities.
Cesan had some minor changes to the document clarifying the museum's snow removal duties and clearing up some language in regard to insurance.
"Those were the only changes. [Town counsel] said it looked good to him," she said.
The contract lasts five years but can be reviewed at any time.
In other business, the Selectmen ratified the hiring of James Shea for the Department of Pubic Works Maintenance Technician/Operator I post.
"He comes to work ready to work early and ready to execute," Town Administrator Jay Green said. "We are pleased to offer him the full-time position with the DPW and we think he will be a good member of the team."
Green said Shea recently moved to the area and started a family. He said he has worked for the DPW as a seasonal worker in the past. Shea is a member of the Alert Hose Company and a former correctional officer. Shea is also a licensed barber.
Shea said he was happy to be in Adams.
"I really appreciate the opportunity and I am excited to be part of the team," he said. "I just had a little one and I am excited to have her grow up in this town."
The board also appointed Lisa Gazaille to the Traffic Commission and Joseph Nowak as representative to the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership.
Tags: scenic rail, train stations,
