NOTICES
MEETING NOTICE
An Informational Meeting of the Prudential Committee of the Adams Fire District will be held on Monday, April 22, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fire Station.
 
PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE  INFORMATIONAL MEETING April 22, 2019
AGENDA  
CALL TO ORDER               
Prudential Committee Informational Meeting:  6:30 p.m.

NEW BUSINESS 
Fire Protection
Discussion on Ballot Questions
  
Discussion on Water Rates 

Kathleen A. Fletcher
Clerk/Treasurer
April 17, 2019

Job Opening

Water Department
Municipal Government Entity
 
Is seeking one (1) full-time (40 hrs/wk) Laborer/Operator
 
D1/T1 Water Licenses preferred.
Class D Driver’s License required.
 
An application may be obtained at the
Adams Fire District Office
3 Columbia Street, Adams, MA 01220
Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Applications (Employment Application.doc)
accepted until 3:00 p.m. on
Monday, April 22, 2019.

The Adams Fire District is an EEO/AA employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

Kathleen A. Fletcher
District Clerk
April 1, 2019


Hydrant Flushing

The Adams Fire District Water Department will be flushing hydrants during the spring of 2019.  This is done to remove any sediment buildup within the distribution system, aiding in the conveyance of quality water to our customers.  It also identifies hydrants in need of maintenance and repair.
 
If you encounter discolored water due to flushing, please run the cold water in your bathtub for a few minutes until the water clears.
Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Superintendent
April 10, 2019


Chemical Feed & SCADA Upgrades Project

Construction of the Chemical Feed and SCADA Upgrades project located at the Cheshire Harbor Wellfield in Cheshire, at the Maple Street Tank in Adams, and Adams Fire District Office located in Adams are being financed by the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF).  The DWSRF program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) with joint funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  This project will add sodium hypochlorite (disinfection) equipment to each of the three well sites, provide a new bulk storage chemical building in the wellfield, add Supervisory Controls And Data Acquisition (SCADA) via radio transmission for data to be shared between the wellfield, Maple Street Tank and District Office, and will provide better quality drinking water for community residents and business in and near Adams, Massachusetts.  DWSRF programs operate around the country to provide states and communities the resources necessary to maintain and improve the infrastructure that protects our valuable water resources nationwide.
Picture
The Chemical Feed and SCADA Upgrade project began construction in February 2019.  The project’s focus has been on installing the disinfection chemical feed system at the Well 4 Pumping Station and working on the electrical upgrades at the Well 2A and Well 3 Stations.  New chemical feed pumps have been installed, along with a weigh scale under the day tank (see photo above).  An online chemical analyzer is in the process of being installed for continuous monitoring of the amount of chlorine disinfection in the distribution system. .  Updates on the progress of the project will be posted to this website periodically as construction progresses. 
Kathleen A. Fletcher
District Clerk
April 2, 2019


Budget Meeting Notices

The Prudential Committee of the Adams Fire District will holding FY2020 Budget Meetings on:
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
5:00 p.m. in the Fire District Office

AGENDA

CALL TO ORDER
Budget Meeting: 5:00 pm

NEW BUSINESS
Review of FY2018 Audit with Auditor Irwin
Overview and Discussion of FY2020 Budget

Kathleen A. Fletcher
Clerk & Treasurer
February 8, 2019

Wednesday, February 20, 2019 
5:00 p.m. at the Council on Aging
AGENDA

CALL TO ORDER
Budget Meeting: 5:00 pm

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
FY2020 Budget
General Fund:
Administration
Fire Department
Street Lighting

Kathleen A. Fletcher
Clerk & Treasurer
February 14, 2019

Monday, February 25, 2019
directly following the 5:00 p.m. Prudential Committee meeting at the Council on Aging.
AGENDA

CALL TO ORDER     
Budget Meeting: Following the Monthly Prudential Committee Meeting
      
UNFINISHED BUSINESS 
FY2020 BUDGET 
Enterprise Fund 
Administration
 Water Department
Warrant Articles
Kathleen A. Fletcher
Clerk & Treasurer
February 21, 2019

Wednesday, February 27, 2019 
5:00 p.m. at the Council on Aging.
AGENDA

CALL TO ORDER     
Budget Meeting: 5:00 pm
      
UNFINISHED BUSINESS 
FY2020 BUDGET 
Enterprise Fund 
Administration
 Water Department
Warrant Articles
Kathleen A. Fletcher
Clerk & Treasurer
February 25, 2019

Tuesday, March 5, 2019
5:00 p.m. at the Fire District Office
AGENDA

CALL TO ORDER     
Budget Meeting: 5:00 pm
      
UNFINISHED BUSINESS 
FY2020 BUDGET 
Fire Department Reorganization
Vote Total Budget
Water Rate Increase
Kathleen A. Fletcher
Clerk & Treasurer
February 28, 2019

District Election and
Annual Meeting

The Fire District Election and Annual Meeting will be held Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at the District’s Fire Station located at 3 Columbia Street. The Annual Meeting will begin at 11:45 AM for the sole purpose to elect a Moderator.  Voting will start at 12:00 noon and end at 6:00 PM.  The Annual Meeting will re-open at 7:00 PM.
 
The following office is open:
 PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE
 ONE Prudential Committee member for three years
 
The following questions will be on the ballot:
1 - Shall the position of Chief Engineer (a/k/a Fire Chief) be made a full time position?
2 - Shall a position of Fire Fighter be made a full time position?

Prudential Committee
April 10 ,2019


To All Registered Voters Residing within
the Adams Fire District

At the Adams Fire District’s Annual Election on May 14, 2019, from noon to 6:00 pm at the Fire Station, 3 Columbia Street, there will be two ballot questions that will provide direction to the Prudential Committee. There have been several meetings to review this change, but due to the initial amount and the recurring costs associated with these questions, the Committee felt your input is crucial. Any increases as a result of these questions will be in addition to the increases in water rates due to MassDEP/DCR mandates.
Shall the position of Chief Engineer (a/k/a Fire Chief) be made a full time position?
Background – Currently the position of Chief Engineer is a part time elected position that receives an annual stipend. The Chief has informed the Committee that due to increased responsibilities, this position needs to be made full time. 
PROS
The following duties and responsibilities continue to grow every year:
  • Fire prevention
  • Oversee vehicle and equipment maintenance
  • Fire reports
  • Maintaining training records for all members
  • Code compliance and inspections
  • Attend meetings for the Department, District, Town, schools
  • Emergency planning
  • Follow up and document all citizen complaints
  • Time constraints which increases the liability to the District
Adams is the fourth largest community in the State that does not have a full time Chief.  There are smaller communities that have a full time Chief.  The past two Fire Chiefs have stated this should be a full time position.
CONS
The new position would have an annual salary instead of a stipend:
  • Currently a stipend of approximately $16,000 would be replaced with an annual salary of approximately $65,000
  • Annual benefits would be approximately $30,000
  • At retirement, an additional $17,000 to fund retiree health insurance while still funding the position
  • Fire Protection would increase from $84 to $105 annually per unit
  • If combined with the full time Firefighter position, Fire Protection would increase from $84 to $121 annually per unit
  • Increases every year going forward of approximately 3%
Shall a position of Fire Fighter be made a full time position?
Background – Currently the Firefighter position is fulfilled by the Adams Alerts as Volunteer Firefighters. Due to the constant decline in available members, the Chief feels this position would ensure at least one Firefighter would be available for business hour calls. This position would coexist with the Alerts.
PROS
  • Faster response time for daytime calls
  • One qualified interior Firefighter on scene immediately
  • Coverage for daily and weekly safety checks, maintenance of equipment and all required documentation
CONS
  • The proposed coverage is for daytime weekdays only
  • This newly created position would have an annual salary of approximately $40,000
  • Annual benefits would be approximately $30,000
  • Fire Protection would increase an additional $15.50 annually per unit
  • If combined with the Chief Engineers position, Fire Protection would increase from $84 to $121 annually per unit
  • Increases every year going forward of approximately 3% 
   ------------------------------------------------------------------ 

At the Annual Meeting on May 14, 2019 starting
7:00 pm at the Fire Station, 3 Columbia Street, the following Water Department mandates required by the MassDEP/DCR will be voted on:
  • 20 year infrastructure Master Plan - $66,500
           (Rate Study included within Master Plan)
  • Develop an Asset Management Plan - $35,000
  • Update the Emergency Response Plan - $15,500
  • Update Operations and Maintenance Manual to State Guidelines - $21,500
  • Bassett Reservoir Dam Emergency Action Plan - $24,000
                 (Deadline for submission for all of the
                        above is December 31, 2019)
  • Replacement of aged water meters - $100,000
                (Ongoing project to replace failing meters)

There will be an 11% ($0.62 per thousand gallons) water rate increase, due to the mandates required by the MassDEP/DCR.
 
Potential State and Federal enforcement actions, if mandates are not completed:
  • Issuance of enforcement notice and fines
  • Designation as a significant Non-Complier
  • Increased monitoring
  • Civil penalties
  • Denial of licenses/permits such as restaurant and/or liquor license
  • Lawsuits-Water users may file lawsuits
  • Referral to US EPA for enforcement
  • Inadequate capacity rating- Could result in denial of loans for Water Infrastructure

Please call the District office at 743-0179 ext.12 with any questions. Also please contact the office if an absentee ballot is required.
Prudential Committee
April 8, 2019


Meter Replacements

Adams Fire District would like to inform the District’s residents that the Water Department will be replacing water meters.  If you have any questions please call the District Superintendent @ 743-0978 ext.13.
 
April 2, 2018



To Receive Emergency Notices

Residents should update their contact information (home phone, cell phone, and email) on the following websites:
For Code Red calls from the Town of Adams, go to http://town.adams.ma.us/Public_Documents/index, scroll to bottom of page, click on "Click Here" for Code Red.

For the Reverse 911 calls from the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office, go to https://bcsoma.onthealert.com.



Emergency Calls
If you have a medical emergency , fire emergency, or need the Police:  
Dial 911
 
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