Adams Board Hears Update on Property Conditions
ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen heard an update on a property at Summer and Hoosac Streets after a complaint about its condition at a previous meeting.
Resident Lisa Mendel brought the issue to the board's attention late last month. She took issue with the number of cars and the property's condition, which she said had been in disrepair for some time.
Building Commissioner Jerry Garner spoke with the property owner, who moved the vehicles and organized the area. He said the owner is working on renovations and he has been keeping him updated on the situation since spring.
"Ultimately, they cleaned the property up, they took all the debris away, took all the siding and construction materials," he said. " ... The initial complaint has been addressed, as far as I can go."
When asked if there was any flooding issues in the cellar of the former convenience store, Garner said there was at one point but it is no longer an issue.
Mendel, an abutter of the property, said she still feels the number of cars in the area is not reasonable.
"They washed them, they moved them over. It's still a mess out there," she said.
Mendel said she does not believe the vehicles are properly registered and have expired inspection stickers and plates. Garner said he reached out to the Police Department about the status of the plates and did not hear about any issues with them.
Board Chair John Duval said he is glad the town has been able to work with Mendel and the property owner to resolve the issue. He encouraged others to reach out to the board if they have questions.
"The last meeting, we had a resident that had an issue. They came forward and we're working with them to get through that issue, to a conclusion that, hopefully, both parties can live with," he said. "That's government as it works."
In other business, the board ratified the appointments of the fiscal 2023 election workers. The board also gave Town Clerk Haley Meczywor the authority to appoint emergency election workers.
The town has two more elections coming up this year, Meczywor said, on the state primary on Sept. 6 and the general election on Nov. 8. Mail-in and early voting applications are now available, and the town will have early voting hours beginning on Aug. 27.
"Ballots have not come in yet, so you will not see them in your mailboxes yet," she said. "I do expect them hopefully by the end of next week or the beginning of the first week in August."
The board heard an update from Community Paradigm Associates consultant Bernard Lynch on the work being done by the General Government Review Committee. The group met on Tuesday and Lynch said he thought it went well.
"I think the committee had a good meeting," he said. "They were really able to focus in, as opposed to the more philosophical and theoretical topics of discussion that we had towards the beginning."
The board ratified the appointment of Christina Satko to the Adams Agricultural Commission. Board member Joe Nowak said there will be others who he believes are interested in being appointed.
Nowak also mentioned he believes the appointments of two members of the commission have expired. Green asked Meczywor to look into the issue.
The board ratified the appointment of Elias Masse as the administrative assistant for the town assessor's office. He will begin working on July 21.
