Cheshire to Hold Special Election Monday

CHESHIRE, Mass. — A special town election will take place on Monday to vote on two ballot questions. 

The special election will take place Aug. 4 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of the Community House. 

Voters will decide whether to allow the town to be exempt from Proposition 2 1/2 to pay for a three-year borrowing of $67,150 for a police cruiser. 

During the June town meeting, voters authorized the purchase of the cruiser. However, it also requires a ballot vote to exclude it from Proposition 2 1/2.

The item was voted on by ballot last year but failed after passing at the annual town meeting. 

According to the minutes for the June 10, 2024, annual town meeting, Police Chief Michael Alibozek explained that the school resource officer would need a vehicle stationed at the school for storage and transportation. 

Voters will also decide whether to approve uncombining the treasurer and collector position, separating them into two part-time positions. 

The proposal was approved after discussion during this year's annual town meeting in June. However, it also has to be adopted by a town ballot vote.

The office has one full-time employee and a part-time employee; the approval authorizes it to be changed to two part-time employees.

Treasurer/Collector Ben Gelb, who started in the position part time in March, explained that he will be working 19 1/2 hours and will be in the office on Tuesdays and Fridays, as needed. His salary will be $40,000 and any balance leftover will go into free cash. 

Gelb said he is confident he will be able to complete his responsibilities within the allotted time because he is doing "half the job." He said in the six other towns he works for, he has been able to offset his salary by increasing revenue and cutting costs. 

More information here. 

Adams Town Meeting OKs Budget, Nixes Citizens' Petitions

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires.com
07:30PM / Monday, June 22, 2026

The annual town report was dedicated to retired Police Chief Richard Tarsa, above. 

ADAMS, Mass. — Town meeting members approved 23 of the 25 articles on the annual town meeting warrant. 

 

The gymnasium in the Memorial Building was filled with 104 town meeting members who voted to approve the authorization for a number of spending articles making up a budget of approximately $21 million during a meeting that lasted 50 minutes. 

 

Of that, members approved, Article 5, an operations budget of $10,650,057, of which $8,074,370 is made up of personnel and $2,642,107 for operating expenses. 

 

"This is a level of services budget from one year ago," Town Administrator Nicholas Caccamo said. 

 

The amounts budgeted are reflective of what it takes for an organization, pay employees, provide health insurance, and all the ancillary costs, he said. 

 

The town has not yet finalized union contract negotiations with the police and clerical unions and still has open positions. So, there will be a special town meeting in late September or early October to adjust the budget based on the salaries and health insurance.

 

The positions have been conservatively budgeted at previous rates, maintaining each staff member's prior step or grade, as if the roles were filled full time.