Adams Altering Two Precincts to Reflect Changes in Population
ADAMS, Mass. — The Selectmen last week voted to alter Precincts 2 and 3 to better match population. This won't change the number of town meeting members but it will change the voting precinct for one.
Town Clerk Haley Meczywor presented new Census data to the board Wednesday and said with a decrease of 299 residents over a 10-year period, the state has recommended that the town change the borders of the two precincts.
"In order to make our precincts as equal as possible, the state is recommended that we make a minor change from Precinct 3 to Precinct 2," she said.
The last Census was done in 2010. Then, the population count was 8,485. In 2020, the count was 8,166 — a 299 decrease.
"That is the number we will move forward with over the next 10 years," Meczywor said.
Meczywor said currently Meadow Street is split between the two precincts. The recommended change would have Precinct 2 absorb all of Meadow Street and extend the boundary to a portion of East Road.
She said it will impact one town meeting member who can finish their term as a Precinct 3 member but if they decide to run again in May, it will have to be in Precinct 2.
She said the town will notify residents affected but that other than redrawing the border, little should change.
The Selectmen were concerned with population decline in general, as they always are. Selectman Howard Rosenberg asked for more specific demographic data that Meczywor did not have.
She did say she ran the number of deaths against the number of births over that 10-year period and noted that there is a difference of 211 more deaths.
"We are an aging population and families are a lot smaller than they used to be," she said.
Chairman John Duval noted that Adams is still the largest town in the Berkshires and the third largest community in the county.
Meczywor said the precinct change would go into effect on Dec. 31.
In other businesses, the Selectmen set trick-or-treat hours on Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
"I am glad to see that the kids will be able to get out and enjoy Halloween the way it should be," Selectman Joseph Nowak said.
Before trick-or-treat, the Lion's Club Halloween parade will step off at 4.
The route will be a little different and participants will march through the Adams Theater, where there will be decorations and light effects.
The parade will terminate at the Visitors Center.
Leading up to Halloween, the Events Committee will team up with the Council on Aging and Mill City Productions for intergenerational pumpkin carving on Oct. 28 at the Visitors Center from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
"This should bring the community members of all ages together," Council on Aging Director Erica Girgenti said. "It should be really fun."
Mill City has held community pumpkin carvings in North Adams.
On the nights leading up to Halloween, the pumpkins will be placed on the Rail Trail for a pumpkin walk
The Selectmen gave photographer Gregory Crewdson permission to stage a series of photoshoots at multiple locations throughout Adams through the remainder of the month. Crewdson was set up on Summer Street on Friday evening.
"He is an accomplished still photographer ... I was very impressed to see his work," Town Administrator Jay Green said.
Residents can expect some periodic road closures
Crewdson was recently shooting in Pittsfield, where he has staged a number of his surreal photographs in the past.
Tags: census, voting,
