Adams Fire District Signs $600K Lawsuit Settlement

ADAMS, Mass. — The Fire District's Prudential Committee has officially signed a $600,000 settlement agreement for a class-action lawsuit over its fire protection and street lighting fees. 

The committee discussed the agreement after a final briefing from district Counsel Stephen Pagnotta. Pagnotta said this is one of the final requirements before the district can move on from the lawsuit. 

"This settlement agreement outlines the process of the settlement, who is going to get what funds and outlines a timeframe for doing that," he said at Thursday's Prudential Committee meeting. 

Pagnotta said, per the agreement, residents of the district who paid fire protection and street lighting charges between September 2019 and June 2022 will receive a proportional share of the $600,000 settlement. The district approved the appropriation of surplus revenue for the settlement at its annual meeting in May. 

Pagnotta explained that the agreement can be filed with the court once both sides officially sign it. 

"We will also be engaging a settlement administrator to assist in the distribution of the funds to the recipients," he said. "... There will be court hearings that the court will schedule, and it will be required to approve this because it is a class settlement action. We anticipate the court will do so. This is one of the last steps in putting this matter behind us." 

The lawsuit resulted in a change to the district's collection of fire protection and street lighting. A Superior Court judge found that the district did not have the authority to charge for anything other than water, according to an 1873 act by the Legislature.

Business Success, Storm Clouds Highlighted at 1Berkshire Annual Meeting

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
06:14AM / Saturday, December 06, 2025

Cheshire native JD Chesloff of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable delivers the keynote address on Thursday.

 

ADAMS, Mass. — One of the county's biggest employers and one of its newest small businesses were touted on Thursday at 1Berkshire's annual meeting at the Adams Theater.

 

The vice president of maritime and strategic systems strategy and business development at General Dynamics shared news of a major expansion at the Pittsfield plant.

 

"We plan to hire over 200 employees in Pittsfield over the next 12 to 14 months," Chris Montferret said. "Business is booming. And of those 200 employees, over 200 will be engineers."

 

Currently, General Dynamics employs more than 1,600 people in Pittsfield, up from a low of 500 in 1997, Montferret said, reminding the 1Berkshire membership of the importance of growth for an anchor like his firm.

 

"As you all know as employers, the multiplier of economic development when you bring a full-time employee in is amazing for the entire community," Montferret said.

 

1Berkshire is dedicated to advancing the local economy by advocating for and serving local businesses while helping attract visitors to the region.

 

The development organization's president and CEO used the annual meeting to talk about 1Berkshire's economic development team, which averages more than 100 consultations per year with local entrepreneurs — over 40 percent with businesses owned by women, members of minority groups or immigrants.