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The hopes to have the water system completed this year in time for the projected opening of the outdoor center in October.

Contractors Attend Conference for Greylock Glen Water System

By Brian RhodesiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — Several contractors visited Town Hall on Thursday morning to attend a pre-bid conference for the water system at the Greylock Glen. 

 

The prospective bidders received a brief overview of the project, what work it will entail and background on the entire glen development. The scope of the work consists of, among other things, a water storage tank, a water main, electrical work, piping and instrumentation work. 

 

Project manager Edward Whatley of Wright-Pierce Engineering said they hope to get work done on the water system as soon as possible. The town will accept bids on the project until 3 p.m. on Jan. 24. 

 

"There's a real impetus to get this project done as quick as possible," he said. "Ideally, we would have had it out a year ago, but it is what it is. Definitely, the sooner this can get done, I think everyone would really benefit because that building is really waiting for the water from this project." 

 

When asked about potential supply-chain issues for some items, such as ductile iron piping, Whatley said they would deal with it if any problems arise. Town Administrator Jay Green said the target opening for the outdoor center is some time in October, but supply and other problems could always impact that date. 

 

"That's the nice time that we think it would make sense to open the building. But I don't think there's anyone who doesn't understand supply-chain issues, constructability, weather, things like that," he said. "We just need to take it one step at a time, but we want everyone to know that, in a perfect lovely world, it would be nice to have this being wrapped up in early September so we can get water to the building. If that's just physically not possible, then we understand that, and we'll do what we need do to make sure the public understands this is just the way it is." 

 

Donna Cesan, the town's special projects coordinator, said work on the outdoor center is going smoothly. She said the town plans to work closely with the contractor to solve any issues during the project, as they did with the outdoor center. 

 

"I think most of the infrastructure in the ground has been completed," she said. "The site contractor will come back in the spring, when conditions allow, to do parking areas and that type of thing. But the building, they're working now on getting the walls up, and the trusses for the roof are all done so they're moving along." 

 

The estimated cost of the entire water system is about $3.8 million. In May last year, the project got $2.9 million in federal funding for water infrastructure at the glen. This funding is in addition to the $7.3 million the state has committed to the outdoor center's construction.


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Adams Man Sentenced to State, Federal Prison for Child Rape

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An Adams man pleaded guilty on Friday in Berkshire Superior Court to multiple counts of aggravated rape of a child and aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. 
 
Brian Warner, 39, was sentenced by Judge Michael K. Callan to 25 to 28 years in state prison. 
 
The defendant pleaded guilty to the following:
  • Two counts of rape of a child with force
  • One count of aggravated rape of a child
  • Two counts of rape of a child, aggravated, five-year age difference
  • Four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14
  • Fourteen counts of aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child under 14
  • Nine counts of posing a child in the nude
  • Two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material
Callan attributed the lengthy sentencing to the egregious nature of the defendant's crime. In his sentencing memo, the judge wrote, "In fashioning this sentence I have also considered the Sentencing Guidelines, which were established by a Sentencing Commission created by our Legislature and consisting of prosecutors, defense counsel, public safety and correctional officials, and victim-witness advocates. 
 
"While not mandatory, these guidelines were designed, among other goals, to promote consistency in the sentencing process in our judicial system. The guidelines utterly fail in some circumstances and this is one of them."
 
Warner produced child sexual abuse material, otherwise known as child pornography. In doing this, the defendant raped and assaulted a child over a period of two years. Law enforcement uncovered hundreds of images produced by Warner.
 
"Justice was served today, but Warner's crimes are deeply disturbing. When a child in our community is harmed, it naturally causes us to reflect on how we can do more to protect our children. To the survivor and their [singular] family, this outcome cannot undo the trauma you endured; however, I hope it offers some comfort in knowing that your abuser has been held accountable under the law," stated District Attorney Timothy Shugrue. 
 
Chief of the Child Abuse Unit Andrew Giarolo, an assistant district attorney, represented the commonwealth and Ian Benoit the victim witness advocate on behalf of the DA's Office. The Adams Police Department led the investigation with support from the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit's digital evidence lab.  
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