ADAMS, Mass. — More than a year after its police chief was put on administrative leave, the town of Adams is finally seeking a permanent replacement. 

 

The Board of Selectmen last week voted to advertise the position with a salary range of $110,000 to $125,000 and with the expectation of interviewing finalists in early December. 

 

The town is seeking an experienced law enforcement or security officer who's worked in a supervisory role for at least five years and be able to meet Massachusetts Peace Standards and Training Commission standards.

 

Town Administrator Nick Caccamo provided the board with the draft minutes from the July's Public Safety Committee meeting and its recommendations for job posting.

 

He reminded the board that the police chief is one of two positions that report directly to the board, the other being the town administrator. 

 

Board members reviewed the salary and experience requirements, leaning toward what the committee had advised with the pay level. 

 

Caccamo said interim Police Timothy Sorrell had compiled salary information for chiefs within Berkshire County and that he had created the data sheet looking at metrics such as population and number of staff members. Sorrell, a former Lanesborough chief, stepped in as interim last year. 

 

There had been some debate in the committee over the salary range, with Sorrell considering $125,000 to $135,000 to be competitive with other communities, though this could be offset with the ability to do weekend details or other compensated activities. 

 

"There might be an option where the salary shifts to a lower range, you could supplement with available opportunities with a certain frame or capacity," Caccamo said, during the meeting streamed on Gateway Collaborative Media.

 

"I don't mind the other suggestions as long as there's no other officer [who would want it]. I would prefer an officer gets it before he does," Selectwoman Kelly Rice said. 

 

Caccamo said that could be worked out in the contract negotiations but the ad could contain language with the possibilities. Selectwoman Ann Bartlett interjected "not during his scheduled working hours."

 

The board members agreed to put in the language, which reads as "Opportunities for overtime may be available, with eligibility and compensation determined in accordance with the finalized contract terms."

 

The board also agreed with Sorrell's suggestion make a bachelor's degree preferred — and take into account experience — but was firm on five years as a minimum of supervisory experience. 

 

The successful candidate also should be an "experienced, forward-thinking, community-focused law enforcement professional" with "proven supervisory experience, sound judgment, and a collaborative leadership style."

 

The town's job advertisement notes the urban and rural character of the former mill town and the needs of 20-person department with a $2.5 million budget. 

 

"The next Chief of Police must be approachable, visible, and deeply engaged with the community. The successful candidate will actively connect with residents and stakeholders in both formal and informal settings, building strong partnerships and encouraging open dialogue," the job posting reads. 

 

Caccamo said he has reached out to the Public Safety Committee for seven members to make up a screening committee. He will bring those names to the board for confirmation. 

 

Candidates will have until noon on Friday, Oct. 30, to submit their applications; the screening committee will likely take most of November to review and interview the applicants, and put forward three finalists.  

 

Rice asked if there could be more than three; Caccamo said it was up to the board to give the committee that charge.

 

"I  think we stick with three as like the ball park number," said Chair Jay Meczywor. "But say they come to us and say we have four really good ones I don't think we would ... ."   

 

Rice and Bartlett agreed that they didn't want to limit their options. 

 

The town is also seeking a full-time officer to replace Sgt. Matthew Wright who was recently appointed police chief in Cheshire. 

 

The former chief, K. Scott Kelley, hired in 2021, was removed from his post in last year and charged in April with fraud and larceny related to nearly $20,000 in allegedly false reimbursement claims. He has pleaded not guilty and his trial is currently scheduled for March.

 

In other business, the board:

 

• Ratified the hiring of Jayden Thompson as a seasonal laborer and Michael Caldwell as a skilled laborer at the Department of Public Works, and Erin Ciempa as a part-time library aide and cataloger at the Adams Free Library. 

 

• Approved one-day alcohol licenses for a car show on Sept. 19 at the Greylock Glen Outdoor Center and for wine and malt on Oct. 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17 from 5:30 to 10 p.m. and Oct. 4 from 4 to 8 pm. fo rhte Adams Theater. 

 

• Heard from Anna Youngman, of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and member of the opioid collaborative, about the Into the Light exhibit on display in Town Hall through Sept. 27,  and recognized the Alert Hose Company and Adams Street Fair on the Sept. 12 events.

 

• Held a hearing on a service pole relocation at Zylonite Station Road at Howland Avenue for National Grid.