Annual Adams Fire District Election to Decide Treasurer Position

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
12:27PM / Saturday, May 09, 2026Print Story | Email Story

ADAMS, Mass. — Voters will head to the polls Tuesday to choose the district's leadership and decide whether the clerk/treasurer position should shift from an elected role to an appointed one.

During the district's special meeting in February, voters overwhelmingly passed making the fire chief and clerk/treasurer appointed positions.

Although the changes were approved during the meeting, they must also receive voter approval at the ballot. The proposal to make the clerk/treasurer position appointed will be before voters on Tuesday.

Despite also passing at the special meeting, the district's request to change the fire chief position to a paid, full-time, appointed role is not on this ballot.

District officials thought the question would be too confusing as the chief engineer's position is up for election this year. It will be posed to voters on next year's ballot.

If voters approve changing the clerk/treasurer role to an appointed position by the Prudential Committee, going forward the post will be filled based on expertise and individual will be required to have a medical exam and drug and criminal background check.

The appointed officials will report directly to the Prudential Committee. If approved the district bylaws will be amended to align with this change.

The current clerk and treasurer will also hold the office until their term expires or the office is vacated.

If the ballot question fails, the Adams Fire District bylaws will remain the same and the position of the clerk and treasurer shall continue to be elected by district voters for a three-year term.

The only qualification for an elected official is the individual must be a legal voter residing within the district

Also on the ballot are elections for several district positions, all of which are uncontested.

Three-year term for the Prudential Committee: Richard Kleiner
Two-year term for the Prudential Committee: John Pansecchi; remainder of the term ending in 2028
Three-year term for chief engineer: David Lennon
Three-year term for first assistant engineer: Edward Capeless
Three-year term for second assistant engineer: Dylan Grimes
Three-year term for third assistant engineer: Timothy Ziemba
Three-year term for fourth assistant engineer: David Lennon

The annual district meeting will be held Wednesday, May 27, at 6 p.m.

Tags: annual meeting, election 2026, fire district,

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After More Than a Century, Heating Failure Puts Adams Turners' Future at Risk

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
07:20AM / Sunday, September 27, 2026

ADAMS, Mass. — For more than a century, generations have gathered for dances, community gatherings and bowling at Turn Hall, but that longtime tradition is now in jeopardy after the building's aging heating system failed.

The Adams community is known for rallying behind local people and organizations in times of need, and now Adams Turners is asking for that same support said Gail Burda, the group's financial secretary.

The boiler, referred to as "the Beast" by board members, is as old as the building itself, which was constructed in 1902. It started out burning coal, was later switched to oil and then to gas President Virginia Fuller said.

For several years, the nonprofit social club, a 501(c)7, has struggled with the aging system, with members periodically checking on it throughout the day during the winter to ensure it was still operating, she said.

Now, "the Beast" has reached the end of its life but the Adams Turners don't have the funding to replace it, prompting them to establish a GoFundMe.

At the time of writing, the GoFundMe has raised $1,750 and members have donated more than $2,500 toward the $30,000 needed to secure an additional $25,000 grant and $25,000 loan from American Turners, the national organization under which the club operates.

The nonprofit hopes to hire a contractor to install a multi-zone hydronic system, a project estimated to cost $81,443. The work would include new heating systems for the apartment, bar area, gym and bowling alley, along with new baseboards, gas lines, permits and other necessary fittings.

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