ADAMS, Mass. — Town meeting approved all 30 articles on the annual warrant, including the fiscal 2020 budget of $15.8 million. 

 

It was a pretty straightforward meeting Monday night with much of the articles passing in bulk. Before running through the warrant, Town Clerk Haley Meczywor thanked town meeting members present and past.

 

"This town report is dedicated to all of you sitting in the center of the auditorium," she said. "Your service to the town is remarkable and without your commitment and dedication the town of Adams cannot function .. .you are the voice of Adams."

 

Adams has a representative form of government in which 150 town meeting members are elected by precinct to weigh the community's decisions. 

 

Meczywor said the town report is dedicated to all town meeting members and recognized those who have served continuously for more than  20, 30, and 40 years.

 

Town meeting member Starr Baker was asked to stand and Meczywor said he has continuously served for 50 years.

 

The rest of the meeting went by quickly and clocked in well under an hour.

 

There was only discussion on some of the early articles that represented the $15.8 million budget but ultimately Articles 7 through 15 achieved safe passage.

 

Article 6, which fixes the salary and compensation of all elective officers, was amended to reflect some salary increases not correctly written on the warrant. Article 28 was also amended to clarify some language having to do with rededicating the Town Common.

 

Article 10, the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District budget, was held by town meeting member John Cowie, who had questions about the assessment of $5,792,649.

 

Many of his questions centered around education, however, because the superintendent was not present at the meeting, they went unanswered.

 

The school district's Business Manager Erika Snyder did attend the meeting and was able to clarify some of the assessment mechanics.

 

Some of the larger articles such as Article 22, which amends the ACRSD agreement and changes its name to the Hoosac Valley Regional School District, passed with ease. Article 24, The special tax agreement with B&B Micro Manufacturing, also passed without pause.

 

One hundred and fifteen town meeting members attended the annual meeting, or 77 percent.