Wojtaszek Seeking Adams Selectmen’s TermBy Susan Bush
12:00AM / Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Adams – James H. Wojtaszek of 10 Edward Avenue has taken out nomination papers for a three-year Selectmen’s term. Town Clerk Paul Hutchinson confirmed that Wojtaszek picked up the papers on Jan. 23.
Wojtaszek was an organizer and the facilitator of a Jan. 5 public, interactive town government forum that was held at the Adams Memorial Middle School. He is a member of the town Finance Committee, a Vice-chairman of the Prudential Committee, and chairman of the Downtown Development Committee.
Wojtaszek is the only selectmen’s candidate to take out nomination papers as of early afternoon Jan. 23, Hutchinson during a telephone interview.
There are two three-year Selectmen’s terms slated for a May 1 town election; Selectman Edward MacDonald’s term is expiring this year, as is the term of Selectman Scott Nichols. Nichols announced last week that he will not be seeking reelection.
Nichols earned the most votes during a 2003 town election. That election marked his first run for a selectman’s term. Nichols is the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts athletic director and has two children; he has said he opted against seeking reelection to spend more time with his family and also cited new employment responsibilities.
There are several terms of office to come before voters during the election. The offices to be decided are as follows:
Town Clerk, One-Year Term, Paul Hutchinson, Incumbent
Moderator, One-Year Term, Anthony McBride, Incumbent
Assessor, Three-Year Term, Donna MacDonald, Incumbent
Board of Health, Three-Year Term, Patricia Clairmont, Incumbent
Library Trustee, Two Three-Year Terms, James Loughman, Eugene Michalenko, Incumbents
Parks Commission, Three Three-year Terms, James Fassell, Lorraine Robinson, and Willard Bard, Incumbents
Robinson and Bard have taken out nomination papers for reelection.
Planning Board, Five Year Term, David Rhinemiller, Incumbent
Cemetery Commission, Three-Year Term, Robert Ciempa, Incumbent
Housing Authority, Five-Year Term, Vacant due to 2005 resignation of member Ann McLaren
Adams-Cheshire Regional School District School Committee Adams Representative, Three-Year Term, Daniel Hogan, Incumbent
Adams-Cheshire Regional School District School Committee Cheshire Representative Three-Year Term, Darlene Rodowicz, Incumbent
Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational School District School Committee, Three-Year Term, Aaron Dean, Incumbent
The town Redevelopment Authority also has a vacant five-year seat with three years left to serve, Hutchinson said. The post has been vacant for about two years, he said.
Town meeting members are elected during the election, Hutchinson said. Town meeting members represent one of five precincts during the annual Town Meeting or during special Town meetings. Each precinct has 10 elected town meeting members. Incumbents who wish to seek reelection are not required to take out nomination papers but are required to alert Hutchinson of their intention to appear on the ballot; anyone seeking election as a town meeting member who is not an incumbent is required to take out nomination papers.
Nomination papers for all elected town offices are available at the Town Clerk’s office at Town Hall on Park Street. Nomination papers must be returned to the office by 5 p.m., March 13.
Susan Bush may be reached via e-mail at suebush@iberkshires.com or at 802-823-9367.
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