Adams Fire District Holds Special Meeting Thursday
ADAMS, Mass. — Voters in the Fire District will decide on six articles for a special district meeting on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the firehouse.
The warrant includes two articles that have proved to be controversial during previous meetings and were shot down in the past. Warrant here.
Article 1 requests that voters authorize changing the clerk and treasurer positions from elected to appointed.
The Prudential Committee is putting forth this question again because the state Department of Revenue recommends appointing key financial positions to ensure they are qualified, and it is hard to put training requirements on elected officials.
Currently, district voters elect officials every three years, though candidates aren't required to have specific experience or knowledge about governmental operations.
Appointed officials would be selected based on expertise, require a medical exam and drug and criminal background check, and report directly to the Prudential Committee.
This proposal failed during previous meetings, including being narrowly shot down 81-85 on the May 2025 election ballot, along with companion questions for appointing the assistant engineers.
The recommendation to change the chief engineer position from an elected to appointed position is also back on the warrant with Article 2.
Fire Chief John Pansecchi has previously advocated for this change because of the significant increase in responsibilities and hours.
Over the last five years, the role has almost been full time, he said, which has been difficult to manage in addition to his current full-time job.
The chief engineer is currently a three-year elected position with a stipend. The district has been advocating for years to make the post a full-time appointed position.
Voters have not been convinced, repeatedly rejecting the proposal. The most recent vote was in May 2025 and while the annual district meeting approved the idea, the article failed on the ballot 81-85.
The volunteer Fire Department currently has five fire engineers, three lieutenants, 19 members, five apprentices, and one part-time firefighter. Pansecchi reported that calls have increased, combined with the department's aging and decreasing membership.
Back in 2021, the district had a study done that recommended a full-time chief and that it should begin to build and support a transition from stipend to paid full time. The Prudential Committee members said they back this proposal and believe it is necessary for a productive future with the Fire Department.
The remaining articles request funds for projects and equipment:
Article 3 requests that voters authorize appropriating $15,560 from surplus revenue for the purchase of a tank mixer for the East Orchard Terrace water tank.
The new mixer would replace the current aging one and be installed per state regulations.
According to the warrant, if the article fails, the structural integrity of the tank and water quality may be compromised because of the lack of proper water agitation.
Article 4 asks voters to authorize the appropriation of $10,000 from surplus revenue for engineering the installation of structural brackets on the Park Street Bridge.
Additionally, Article 5 requests the appropriation of $85,000 from surplus revenue for the installation of the structural brackets to the Park Street Bridge. The sum would cover the installation, materials, and other associated costs for the project.
A recent inspection by the state Department of Transportation found that eight out of 11 utility brackets supporting the district's 14-inch water main beneath the bridge are deficient.
According to the warrant, if these articles fail, the structural integrity of the current supports are in jeopardy of collapse putting the district's water source at risk.
Article 6 requests the appropriation of $2,500 for a hydraulic model for MassDOT's Cook Street bridge project.
The model will be generated and utilized to ensure adequate fire protection coverage for that area while the water line is taken out of service to repair the Cook Street Bridge.
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