Saturday January 12, 2013

ADAMS -- Selectmen picked March dates for a two-part, multi-interest, town planning session at this week's meeting, from which they hope to draw material for an all-encompassing Adams Strategic Plan.

They've also compiled a list of desired participants, and advised residents to stay tuned.

"We'll be notifying individuals very soon," Selectmen John Duval said Wednesday. " ... We will also be providing material in advance, so people need to do their homework."

Information about town properties, budgets, projects, schools and goals will be included therein.

The meetings have been scheduled for Friday evening on March 22 and the majority of the following Saturday at the Adams Visitors Center.

"There's a good-size list of folks that will be [included]," Town Administrator Jonathan Butler said.

Interested group members and individuals, from students to senior citizens, are expected to join town employees and members of various boards in the endeavor. Butler said the role of moderator is key and remains to be filled.

Someone to reel things in when discussion gets beyond the scope of government, Butler said, is desired.

"We want to get someone that's a little removed from Adams," Butler said. "I think you want someone who knows the municipal and state process ... and someone that's not shy to run the meeting."

He's reached out to local town managers in hopes of finding a suitable candidate.

After

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the two sessions, the town plans on working with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission to whip the results into workable shape. Butler hopes the resulting document can be finished by the latter part of this year's budget process.

In other business, Butler reported a good meeting with MassDevelopment representatives over the holidays, a gathering focused on the Memorial School.

He said the school, "mothballed" for the winter to put it at roughly one sixth its normal energy cost, is being eyed for an assistance in need assessment -- needs that include roof repairs, heating upgrades and more.

"There's even a possibility of MassDevelopment themselves helping us with their own engineers," Butler said.

Officials plan to seek grants for improvements once the engineers do their work. In the meanwhile, moving the town's Youth Center and a business into the space, as planned, will "absolutely enhance grant opportunities."