ADAMS, Mass. — The vacant selectman seat will remain open until the next annual election, unless voters petition for a special town election. 

 

Just days following the town's annual election, which resulted in Kelly Rice defeating incumbent Christine Hoyt, longtime Selectman John Duval abruptly resigned two years into his three-year term.

 

During Wednesday's Selectmen meeting, the board decided to hold off on filling the fifth seat until next year, favoring conserving costs. 

 

With this decision, the seat will appear as a three-year term on the 2027 annual town election ballot, as part of the regular election cycle for the Board of Selectmen. 

 

Based on the figures from the special election the town had for the McCann Technical School project, the estimated to cost was between $5,800 to $6,000, or more depending on various factors including timing and postage, Town Clerk Haley Meczywor said. 

 

"I am currently by myself in the office. I am very fortunate to have staff within Town Hall that have been very, very kind to me and do step up to the plate to help when they can," she said.

 

"And if needed, if it's the board's wishes to run a special election, my office will step up to the plate and certainly get it done."