ADAMS, Mass. — Longtime Selectman John Duval abruptly resigned Wednesday, hours before the new board was about to meet. 

 

Duval's departure two years into his three-year term came after Kelly Rice's defeat of Christine Hoyt on Monday. 

 

Rice, who retired as town treasurer after 12 years on the May 4, the day of the election, polled a decisive victory against the three-term Hoyt, giving an indication of the dissatisfaction of voters and the future direction of the board 

 

Duval and Hoyt had frequently served either as chair and vice chair over the years and often — but not always — voted in tandem. 

 

Duval's departure was announced during the Selectmen's meeting on Wednesday night. He had served on the board for more than a decade, first being elected in 2012. He was chair of the board at his resignation. He also spent 17 years serving on the Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee and representing Adams on the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission until last year. 

 

He was a systems engineer at General Dynamics before his retirement last year.  

Wednesday's meeting was the annual board restructuring, with Jay Meczywor elected as chair and Ann Bartlett as vice chair.