Town Clerk Haley Meczywor and COA Director Erica Girgenti talked about the local and federal censuses Wednesday.
ADAMS, Mass. — Town officials are making sure that everyone gets counted in the 2020 Census.
Town Clerk Haley Meczywor and Adams Council on Aging Director Erica Girgenti laid out a plan to Selectmen on Wednesday night for getting a high return rate on the massive decennial undertaking.
"A lot of people, because it coincides with the (yearly) town census, say 'Oh I already got that.' It is very different. It's very important for a lot of different reasons," Girgenti told the board. "There are a few changes that are happening in this Census that community members would never have seen in previous Censuses. Haley, myself, and our local Librarian Holli Jayko have partnered together to set up a series of informational sessions in our community."
Issues the Census affects include, but certainly aren't limited to, many avenues of federal funding, grant money, public safety funding, and even job creation. Population and demographic data the Census provides also leads directly to the number of congressmen by which their particular state will be represented. Massachusetts did indeed lose a congressional seat after the 2010 Census that resulted in redistricting in the western portion of the state.
Selectman John Duval, who sits on the executive committee of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, also stressed the importance of filling out the census.
"The Census determines Title 1 aid, which our school district does receive. All of our federal grants, the school federal grants, federal highway projects. It's huge in the number of people it impacts in our community," he said.
Girgenti ran through what to expect when it comes to recognizing and filling out the 2020 census.
"They are requesting that you do the return digitally. Between March 12th and 20th you'll expect an invitation in the mail to respond to the Census. That will look like a small postcard with an identification number on it. The community members will have to go online ... and enter that information."
Girgenti said two reminders will be sent out after the initial mailing if the Census still has not been filled out. After the reminders, a paper questionnaire might be sent out with another reminder. Finally, she said if you still fail to fill it out "the door knockers will come."
Citing the older demographic in Adams, Girgenti listed several dates the town will be holding workshops or help sessions to fill out the Census forms.
Two information sessions will be held March 9 at 11 a.m. and March 12 at 6 p.m., both at the Senior Center.
Six help sessions to fill out the Census:
April 1, 9 to 11 a.m. at the Mill Houses
April 2, 9 to 10 a.m. at Barrett House
April 3, 9 to 11 a.m. at Adams Housing Authority, 4 Columbia St.
April 9, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the library
April 14, 9 to 11 a.m. at the Senior Center
Girgenti, Meczywor, and Jayko will have laptops available at all six sites to assist anyone who is having trouble filling out the census.
Meczywor doesn't want residents to forget the smaller, but no less important, local census sent out every year by the town.
"Everyone should have received the annual town census in the mail by now. If you haven't I suggest you call Town Hall and inquire why you haven't received it. Included with the census is a dog license application so if anyone wants to fill that out, we are more than happy to license your dog and mail it back to you. Also included is an informational sheet about the federal Census for 2020," Meczywor said.
Meczywor said her office tries to hit a 65 percent return rate for the town census. The clerk's office will accept town censuses the entire year.
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Adams Picks Select Board Candidates; Cheshire Nixes Appointed Assessor
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — Voters chose incumbent John Duval and newcomer Ann Bartlett for the two open seats on the Selectmen.
Bartlett, a co-owner of the former Red Carpet Diner, garnered the most votes at 791, more than 300 above the other three challengers, and Duval was returned for another three-year term with 685.
Incumbent Howard Rosenberg's decision sparked a five-way race for the two seats. Coming in third was Jerome Socolof with 465, Mitchell Wisniowski with 446 and former board member Donald Sommer with 367.
All results are unofficial.
Wisniowski did win a seat on the Parks Commission and Michael Mach outpolled challenger Timothy Kitchell Jr. 887-407 to stay on the Planning Board.
Frederick Lora appears to have bested Jennifer Solak as Adams representative to the Hoosac Valley Regional School District by 10 votes. The unofficial tally is 814-804, with Lora gaining 674 votes to Solak's 620 in Adams; the voted flipped in Cheshire with Solak winning 184-140 but not enough to overcome the gap. Robert Tetlow Jr., running unopposed, was returned as the Cheshire representative.
Write-ins for Board of Health and Redevelopment Authority, which had no candidates, were still being tallied.
That wasn't all, of course, as she was applauded for her 30 years overseeing the town's elections and vital records. There were plenty of hugs and some tears for a closing out of her long career.
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Listening to Little list off all the specialized components he sells and installs, from public safety lighting to municipal warning lights and radio communication, his technical knowledge and experience shines through.
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Selectmen Chair and 1Berkshire Director of Member Services and Christine Hoyt has been nominated for the April Community Hero of the Month. click for more
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Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School history teacher Alla Chelukhova has been selected as the April Teacher of the Month. click for more