Adams Fire District Election OKs Appointed Posts

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ADAMS, Mass. — After several years of trying, the voting members of the Fire District have approved making the clerk and treasurer appointed positions. 
 
The measure passed 96-69 at the Tuesday's annual election and will take effect as of July 1. 
 
There were no races on the ballot but the election will see a new fire chief with David J. Lennon winning a three-year term. John Pansecchi, who served three terms as chief, has retired. 
 
Taking Lennon's place as first assistant engineer is Edward B. Capeless; second assistant is Dylan Grimes; third assistant Timothy Ziemba; and fourth assistant David A. Lennon. 
 
Incumbent Richard Kleiner won re-election on the Prudential Committee and will be joined by Pansecchi, who will complete the final two years of Thomas Satko's unexpired term. 
 
The Prudential Committee has for years been advocating to make a number of its elected positions appointed as a way to ensure they are filled by qualified, professional candidates. 
 
But while passing several times as a warrant item, they've failed the two-step process at the ballot box. 
 
In February, a special meeting of the district again overwhelming supported making the fire chief and clerk/treasurer appointed positions. 
 
Officials held off on putting the fire chief post on the annual ballot over concerns that voters would be confused by the voting for chief and assistant engineers. They plan to put the chief's post on next year's annual election ballot. 

Tags: appointments,   election 2026,   fire district,   

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Lanesborough TA Tapped as Adams Community Development Director

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

ADAMS, Mass.— Lanesborough's town administrator has been tapped as Adams' director of community development. 

On the agenda for the Select Board's meeting on Wednesday is a ratification of Gina Dario as director of community development. She has worked for Lanesborough since late 2022, when she was hired as town administrator. 

Dario is also a native of Adams and will replace Donna Cesan, the retired community development director who stepped in last year to temporarily fill the vacant spot. 

The town's job posting explains that the community development director manages community and economic programs and develops work plans and programs to meet Adams' growth and development goals.  

This includes managing the Community Development Block Grant Program funding and procuring, negotiating, and managing professional service contracts. 

The position reports to the Town Administrator Nicholas Caccamo, who was hired last year.  

Lanesborough Select Board Chair Deborah Maynard on Tuesday said Dario had informed Town Hall and all boards and committees. 
 
"She plans on leaving mid-October," Maynard wrote. "Hopefully, we will have candidates to interview before then."

The pay grade is level 14, between about $80,000 per year and $118,000.  A Bachelor's Degree, Master's preferred, in a related field and a minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in project management or local planning is required, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Before her work in Lanesborough, Dario was a former state manager with the Australian Electoral Commission in Perth, Western Australia, and before that, she worked as an assistant commissioner with the Australian Electoral Commission in Canberra, the country's capital.

She grew up in the Berkshires before attending Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley and obtaining a master's degree in international public affairs from Columbia University in New York City.

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