ADAMS, Mass. — Reduced town operations because of the COVID-19 pandemic has lead to staff furloughs. 

 

Town Administrator Jay Green on Wednesday reported that he had to make the difficult decision to furlough all the staff at the Adams Free Library and partially at the Council on Aging and at Town Hall. 

 

"The people who are still working [at Town Hall] from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. are furloughed for the shifts between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.," he told the board. "The reason for that is very simply, we better be careful how we move forward with our budget obligations for the balance of the year and be conservative with what we are spending."

 

He said none of the furloughs are permanent and once the government is unrestricted by the COVID-19 crisis he fully expects everyone affected by it to return to their normal schedules.

 

One positive he sees as perhaps giving the town momentum coming out of this crisis, is the continued operation of Inspectional Services. This allowing the town to move forward with construction projects both public and private.

 

"I want to make it very clear, while other communities have ceased construction and ceased issuing building permits, the town of Adams has not. [We] will continue to entertain and accept building permits on a case by case basis," Green said. "The town of Adams is open for business. We will do so reasonably, measured, and smartly."

 

The Board of Selectmen paid tribute to former member Arthur "Skip" Harrington on Wednesday night. 

 

Harrington died Sunday morning at age 76.

 

Chairwoman Christine Hoyt paid tribute to him at the meeting's start, noting his decades of service to the town in multiple roles. 

 

Harrington was first elected in 2009 and was the top vote-getter all three times he ran. He stepped down in 2017 two years into this third term. He also served the town as assistant building inspector from 1989-2002. He had been a teacher at Drury High School in North Adams for 29 years. 

 

"He was also an original member of the committee that created the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail and was instrumental in having the trail and bike path run through the town of Adams," Hoyt said.

 

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, services will be at a later date, she said, "when family and community can gather to celebrate Skip's life and his contributions to our community at a time when we really feel like we can honor Skip [properly]."

 

A moment of silence was observed, after which Hoyt informed the public that flags will be flown at half staff on all town properties this week to honor his service to the town.

 

The effects of the novel coronavirus also pertained to the Selectmen's meeting, with Hoyt and Selectmen James Bush and Joseph Nowak attending in person but sitting apart while Richard Blanchard and John Duval called in. 

 

Green, who also attended in person, gave the almost mandatory COVID-19 update. He said that for the first time in a month, the news was not all bad.

 

"This is a dynamic and fluid situation, however I am pleased to report I think we may have finally stabilized in terms of having to react on an operational standpoint in terms of regulations. As the governor has stated in his daily briefing we are at the point in the commonwealth where we believe we will have reached peak level of infection. Probably some time this week if not on April 20 itself," he said.

 

"Essentially what that means is the rate of infection is at its greatest and also with that, the greatest opportunity for those folks affected that need hospital care to [get that care]. That's what we're trying to avoid. A rush on the medical system."

 

Green cautioned that it is still imperative to stay vigilant with the guidelines put forth by the U.S Centers for Disease Control.

 

"With that being said, the weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer, and we're coming up on 30 days of one of the strongest [acts] of self-discipline required of the public that I think anyone's ever asked," he said. "We need everyone's cooperation to please make sure that you continue to socially distance, use common sense, sanitize, and be smart with your actions in order to keep the rate of infection down."

 

Gov. Charlie Baker has been clear in his daily press conferences that the government is thinking about how to reopen, Green said, but he cautioned that the public should "not to lose their bearing in terms of self discipline."

 

In other business: 

 

• The board voted at its last meeting to postpone the town election from May 4 to June 1. Voting will still take place at the DPW garage on North Summer Street from 7 to 7. Town Clerk Haley Meczywor phoned in to give residents two options should they not feel safe voting in person.

 

"Please feel free to call [the town clerk's] office and we will mail you an absentee ballot application so that we can get you in the pipeline for when the ballots are ready. The law also provides for Early Voting By Mail. There is an application for that also. There are a lot of options and you can find them on the town website," she said.

 

• Hoyt ended the meeting by praising the efforts of all the volunteers who helped distribute food Tuesday to hundreds of households through a mobile food bank stationed at the Council on Aging.

 

"Yesterday there was a mobile food bank here in town, it was a very busy day, I know Jim [Bush] was running all over the parking lot outside. We served 376 households in a matter of an hour and forty minutes, until we ran out of food." she said. "The need is there, the need is great. I applaud Erica [Girgenti, head of the COA] and her team of volunteers who have been able to really change how the process works. Making sure that it gets done safely."

 

Hoyt said the truck will be back in two weeks and to check the COA's Facebook page for details.

 

Bush also reminded the public that the COA is still doing senior meals for $2 for pick up and to call ahead to 743-8333 to request a meal.

 

• The next meeting will be Wednesday, April 29, will be available virtually for public participation. Refer to the town's website for details.