Adams Arts Advisory Board Gives Update on Cultural District Designation

ADAMS, Mass. — The Adams Arts Advisory Board provided an update on Monday for its initiative to have downtown Adams designated by the Massachusetts Cultural Council as a state-sanctioned cultural district.

The potential benefits of the cultural district designation, outlined on the AAAB's website, include increased tourism, preservation of historic buildings, cultural development and economic growth.

George LeMaitre, treasurer for the board, said the board sent letters inviting local businesses and organizations to support the initiative. He said, among others, Town Administrator Jay Green provided a letter of support for the plan.

"We sent those letters, and we received 18 letters of support," he said. "Really nice letters from all sectors of our community."

LeMaitre said Green also wrote a letter to Luis Cotto, cultural districts program manager at the Mass Cultural Council, inviting him to visit Adams. He said there had not been a response from Cotto as of the meeting.

"I'm hoping when he does give a response that he sees enough evidence and support in the town that he would like to come visit the town," he said. "And meet with the stakeholders involved with setting up the culture business."

Also discussed at the meeting, Deirdre Flynn-Sullivan and Richard Tavelli of the Berkshire Mountains Faerie Festival updated the board on the status of the next festival, slated for Bowe Field on June 18, 2022. The festival was canceled the last two years because of COVID-19.

The board plans on representing the theater being a sponsor for the fundraiser, allowing donations to be considered tax-deductible charity donations.

"The theater is an LLC. It is not a non-profit. And [Yina] would like to be able to offer people the ability to have a tax charitable deduction," LeMaitre said.

Adams District Voters OK All Annual Meeting Articles

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
10:06AM / Thursday, May 28, 2026

The Prudential Committee and Fire Department officers meet in the fire station on Wednesday night.

ADAMS, Mass. — Officials say the unanimous approval of all warrant articles at the district's annual meeting reaffirms citizen support for the district's efforts and well positions the district to address future challenges faced by many communities. 

 

Nearly 40 voted at Wednesday's meeting, which lasted 20 minutes, approving all items with no discussion, including a $3.6 million budget, a petition to the state for a special legislation retirement age exemption, and a bylaw change making the clerk and treasurer positions appointed.

 

Voters approved the appropriation of $808,295.81 to the general fund for operational expenses. The general fund covers fire services, administration, and street lighting. They also approved the appropriation of $1,721,144.92 to fund the enterprise fund expenses. This fund supports the Water Department. 

 

The budget is anticipated to raise the district tax rate by 30 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, resulting in a new rate of $1.17, however, the exact amount will not be known until the town determines on property valuations in the fall.

 

"I think it is forward thinking. It's an immense leap forward to try to sustain all of our emergency services that the district, as an umbrella company, holds, whether it be fire or water," Water Superintendent John Barrett said. 

 

"Neither of us can sustain each other without it, and that just everything in [the warrant] summarizes all of our efforts throughout the year to continue sustaining our services."

 

Some articles have been years in the making by former Chief John Pansecchi, who had raised them years prior, Chief Engineer David Lennon said.