Adams Oks Election Ballot, Early Voting Begins Saturday

ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen has approved the Nov. 8 state election warrant, with early voting hours available starting this weekend and running until Nov. 4. 

Early voting will begin Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with weekday hours available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Voting will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday. 

Town Clerk Haley Meczywor said all mail-in ballots have already been sent out and should arrive in the coming days, if not already received. 

"Please note that you should get an acknowledgment from my office that you are registered to vote," she said. "If you have any questions before the Nov. 8 election, please feel free to either stop in or give my office a call," she said.

The last day to register to vote is Oct. 29. 

In other business, the board closed the warrant for the scheduled special town meeting on Nov. 15. Town Administrator Jay Green said the actual meeting warrant should come before the board for approval at its meeting next week. 

The board approved a one-day liquor license and an entertainment license for Adams Theater for Nov. 11. The licenses are for a benefit concert for the theater, as part of its ongoing fundraising campaign. 

Yina Moore, founder and executive director of the theater, said they are planning an open hose in addition to the concert. Beverages will be served by North Adams-based Bright Ideas Brewing. 

"We're gonna have the benefit concert at Adams Theater inside the auditorium, but we also want to have our open house between five to 7:30 to invite the community to come in," she said. "And we got the Bright Ideas lineup for beverages, and we're also bringing a food truck," she said. 

The board approved the appointment of Mark Pizani to the position of Parks and Grounds foreman. Pizani, who has spent 35 years with the Department of Public Works and is currently a foreman, will be replacing Steve Skrocki, who is retiring. 

The board also approved the appointment of Andrew Ketchal as a transfer station attendant. Green said Ketchal, who has 20 years of experience working in a transfer station, is more than qualified for the position. 

Cheshire Rejects Override, Votes Reduced School Budget

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:32AM / Tuesday, August 13, 2024

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.