After four years of serving as a member of the Cummington Select Board, Bill Adams has announced that he will be stepping down from his position as of May first.
“I just turned 74,” Adams said. “Its time to go on to the next phase and turn his wonderful town that we love so much, and appreciate so much, over to the next generation.”
Adams said that he has found being on the select board very rewarding and challenging at times.
“My only regret is that I wasn’t a regular in Cummington when I was much younger and could have served longer in this capacity,” he said.
A career Naval officer, Adams served for 26 years in the U.S. Navy before moving to Cummington.
Adams and his wife, Jane, began selling Christmas trees on Porter Hill Road in 1991. They purchased Maple East Farm from Jane’s Uncle, the late Frannie Wells, in 2001, a property that has been in her family for four generations.
The couple moved to the farm in 2013.
In 2014, Adams got involved in town affairs serving as a member of the Cummington Ad Hoc Education Committee, becoming a solar coach for Cummington’s Solarize Mass project and a trustee at the Village Church.
Adams won his seat on the Select Board as a write-in candidate when he ran against incumbent James Drawe in 2016.
One of the accomplishments achieved during his tenure on the board was to help the town secure a $1 million MassWorks grant, which he says will enable the town to make significant safety improvements to a 1.5-mile-stretch of Route 112.
“I feel like I am leaving on a high note,” he said. “I will probably still be involved in town committees.”
Adams said that he also plans to continue working on a grant to replace a culvert on Stage Road and noted that he will stay on that project to its completion.
After that, he says that his most important task will be to visit with his children and family members.
His son, who serves in the Navy, is currently locked down in Italy due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Once we get through this coronavirus, I hope to be taking some trips!” he said. “I’m lucky to be 74 — it’s time to do this.”
PLAINFIELD — The annual Town Caucus to select candidates for the May town elections will be held at Town Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18.
Select Board member Howard Bronstein is running for re-election for another three-year term, and Select Board member Winton Pitcoff will be stepping down. Pitcoff is leaving with two years left on his three-year term, and candidates are needed to run to fill his position.
Ideas for this column on life in the hilltowns can be sent to Fran Ryan at fryan.gazette@gmail.com