Adams Fire District Sets Feb. 23 Special Election, District Meeting
ADAMS, Mass. — The Prudential Committee has voted to hold a special election and district meeting on Feb. 23, 2027, to fill a vacant committee seat and consider changing the district's engineer positions from elected to appointed.
The exact warrant has yet to be determined, but the need for an election and meeting arose following a vacancy on the Prudential Committee and items that were not anticipated at the annual district meeting.
During a special meeting of the Fire District last February, voters approved changing the fire chief position to a paid, full-time, appointed role. More information here.
John Pansecchi's resignation was announced earlier this month, leaving the committee with only two members, Chairman Richard Kleiner and Vice Chair Michael Lahey.
The Feb. 23 date allows enough time to publicize the election and for interested candidates to obtain nomination papers and gather signatures, bookkeeper Victoria Lassonde told the committee last week.
With this election date, nomination papers would have to be submitted to the town clerk by Jan. 5, she said.
The committee also voted for polls to be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by the special district meeting at 6 p.m.
Polls were open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the last election, but the committee voted to close them an hour earlier to allow the special meeting to begin at 6 p.m. rather than 7 p.m.
Kleiner said he felt 7 p.m. was too late for the special meeting and preferred a 6 o'clock start. Lassonde explained that she initially proposed 7 to allow time to close the polls and rearrange the space following the election.
"I would rather have the polls open up 11. Then if somebody's on their lunch break or something, they can come and vote at that time and close early enough so we can have the meeting at 6 p.m.," Kleiner said.
He also favored a 6 p.m. start time for the special meeting, citing unpredictable February weather.
"You still might get somebody that you know does work till 5 o'clock and will never get here to vote," Water Superintendent John Barrett said.
Kleiner said he understands that but it's up to the board.
"Everybody else has to make their own ways to get there also. You know, it just can't be the easiest way all the time … I think 11 to 5 is fine," he said.
After the brief discussion, the time and date of the election and meeting were approved.
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