Two New Members Join Adams Parks Commission

By Brian RhodesiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

ADAMS, Mass. — The Parks Commission, which has recently dealt with several vacancies, held its first meeting with two newly appointed members, Mary Ciuk and Aimee Sinopoli. 

 

Ciuk and Sinopoli, both Adams natives, will fill the commission's two vacancies until the town's May elections. Both plan to run for the next term after the end of their appointments. 

 

The commission has had to operate with several vacancies in recent months. Former member Scott Tolmach left the board ahead of the commission's October 2021 meeting, and former Commission Chair Anthony Nowicki resigned in January for personal reasons.  

 

Sinopoli, who previously served on the commission, said she is happy to be back on board. 

 

"I just felt like it was time to come back on and wanted to give back to the community and help out with the town of Adams and all the parks," she said. 

 

Ciuk said she returned to Adams after living elsewhere for several years and is looking forward to being a part of the commission. 

 

"I've been back here for a couple of years and following the parks meetings," she said. "And it seemed that there was always wavering on the numbers of park commissioners. So I figured it was natural because I was always involved in athletics and sports with the town. I'm excited to see how things have grown and, hopefully, continue."

 

Board co-Chair James Fassell thanked Sinopoli and Ciuk for filling the commission's vacancies. He said he hopes both of them consider the time commitment being on the commission entails.

 

"It is a commitment. Being here suddenly for seventy percent of the job, so make sure you decide you can do it," he said. "Because there's going to be other people that want you. They're going to say, 'Well, why don't you come up for this meeting? Or this committee, or that committee?' ... Be sure you've made a commitment to be here." 

 

In other business, the board approved a field use application from the Hoosac Valley High School Booster Club to host two baseball games at Renfrew Field on April 28 and May 9. Carrie Kondel, who represented the boosters at the meeting, said she hopes the games will help raise money for the booster club. 

 

"The last two years, with COVID, there really hasn't been any fundraisers. So when we got the booster club handed over to us this year, the funds were pretty much depleted," she said. "So we're trying to come up with ways to raise money, and we thought with the local games, it would draw more of a crowd if it was [at Renfrew]."


Tags: parks commission,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Adams OKs Parking Fix for Stalled Jordan St. Culvert Repairs

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — Jordan Street residents displaced by a years-old culvert collapse have a place to park this winter, but town officials remain in the dark regarding when the culvert will actually be fixed.
 
The Select Board on Wednesday approved a traffic commission recommendation to allow permitted on-street parking for specific residents during the winter parking ban.
 
Interim Town Administrator Holli Jayko explained that the collapse, which occurred behind a Jordan Street apartment building several years ago, effectively eliminated off-street parking for several households.
 
"This collapse eliminated parking for some residents which creates challenges during the winter parking-ban period," Jayko said.
 
While most residents on the narrow, one-way street have access to private parking, a select few were left with no legal options during the winter months. Those affected can now apply for a town permit, provided they can prove their parking loss is a direct result of the collapse.
 
Selectman Joseph Nowak noted the culvert has been "down for years" and questioned if there were any immediate plans for repair.
 
Community Development Director Donna Cesan said the town has been working with the Massachusetts and Federal Emergency Management agencies through the Hazard Mitigation Program, but the project is currently stalled at the federal level. Cesan noted that MEMA will not enter into a formal agreement until funding is fully secured.
 
View Full Story

More Adams Stories