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An image provided to the commission of a failing concrete wall on Pine Street.

Adams Con Comm Approves Emergency Certificate for Damaged Wall

By Brian RhodesiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — The Conservation Commission has approved an emergency certificate for work on damaged concrete channel walls between 16 and 20 Pine St. 

Waterflow is undercutting the wall, which is at risk of collapse because of the damage. Board member Jeff Randall visited the site and said it was in rough shape. 
 
"The framing walls were in pretty tough shape," he said. "They look like they're all overturning ... It's going to need some work in the future. I don't know whose going to foot the bill for it." 
 
Board Chair James Fassel said the wall likely needs significant work. He noted the area is in a geographical low spot. 
 
"That place, where that water comes out, is the lowest place in town," he said.
 
In other business Thursday, the board continued a certificate of compliance for the town for removal of a damaged culvert pipe at the intersection of Davis and Lime Streets. 
 
Randall was an engineer for the project and had to recuse himself, meaning the board did not have enough members present to approve. He said he will help present the work at the next meeting. 
 
"We completed it in April of this year," Randall said, speaking as the engineer. "I thought it came out pretty good, I sent out a bunch of pictures ... I just wanted to let everybody know that that's well handled until next time."  
 
The board also continued a notice of intent from White Engineering, for B&B Micro Manufacturing for a driveway and parking lot extension. The Planning Board approved site plan approval for the project on Monday. 
 
The applicant requested a continuation to the board's next meeting, which was granted. Randall said there was still work needed before the application could be approved. 
 
Selectman Joseph Nowak brought the concerns of a resident about a damaged retaining wall near Richmond Lane. He also mentioned another damaged wall along East Hoosac Street. 
 
The board said it would look further into both issues. 
 
The board received a notice of intent from the state to the Department of Conservation and Recreation for trail improvements. The application, however, was received too late to be on the meeting agenda. 
 
The board's next meeting is on Oct. 20

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Cheshire Rejects Override, Votes Reduced School Budget

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The decision to vote on the budget by secret ballot on Monday night was overwhelming. An override to fund the school budget failed in Monday's election. 
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Voters on Monday rejected a Proposition 2 1/2 override and passed a motion that would level fund the town's fiscal 2025 school assessment.
 
They also voted down a debt exclusion to purchase a $67,000 police cruiser 228-267, but approved an exclusion for an $850,000 fire truck 296-200. An article to separate the positions of town tax collector and treasurer failed 230-261.
 
All four questions had passed at the annual town meeting.
 
Question 1 on the warrant would have added $150,534 to the town's levy limit to cover the town's $3 million portion of the $23 million Hoosac Valley Regional School budget.
 
The question failed 141-355. At the special town meeting following the vote, Selectmen Chair Shawn McGrath motioned to level fund the assessment at $2,948,462, the same assessment as last year, and that passed 47-20 on a secret ballot.
 
The failure of the school budget means the School Committee has the choice to make cuts or resubmit its budget to a districtwide vote. The budget passed in Adams, the other town in the two-town school district.
 
Hoosac Valley's Business Manager Erika Snyder said the school district will request a meeting of all voters in the school district, which would decide the budget by majority vote.
 
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