Adams Fire Chief John Pansecchi is retiring in May. JANE KAUFMAN — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE ADAMS — For the third time in seven years, the Adams Fire District is recommending that its fire chief be made a full-time appointed position.
Thursday night, 50 of about 55 fire district voters gathered at the department's Columbia Street station voted in favor of making the chief's position full time effective July 1, 2027. In a separate vote, the district approved the first of a two-step process making its clerk and treasurer appointed rather than elected positions. That elected position is now held by Allen Mendel, whose term expires in May 2027.
To finalize the move for the clerk and treasurer, district voters will need to approve a change to the language of the district bylaws in the district election in spring. To change the chief to an appointed rather than an elected position, voters will cast ballots in 2027. The intention is to have a full-time appointed chief start in July 2027.
District voters also learned Thursday that John Pansecchi, fire chief for the past nine years, will retire on May 12.
In 2019 and in 2025, the Fire District, a municipal body separate from town government that also serves as the town water department, recommended that the fire department professionalize its leadership by appointing rather than electing its leadership. In both cases, those changes were rejected in previous votes.
The current proposal would also set the full-time chief’s salary between $75,000 to $111,000, with benefits adding nearly $50,000 in costs.
Pansecchi, 59, is being paid an annual stipend of $30,000 as Adams' part-time chief. He works two jobs, including a full-time role as a dispatcher for the City of Pittsfield.
David Lennon will run for fire chief in Adams in May. If elected, his intent is to provide continuity following outgoing Chief John Pansecchi's retirement in May as the Adams Fire District potentially transitions to a full-time, appointed chief in July 2027. JANE KAUFMAN — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE Thus far, First Assistant Chief David Lennon is the only candidate for chief. His intention is to serve for just a year during the transition period.
At Thursday’s meeting, Lennon advocated for making the chief’s position full-time, pointing out that it will give the district a wider field of candidates. Right now, only candidates who live within the district can be elected chief.
District voter Kathy Foster said it’s important for the voters to support this change. “I don’t really know of any other professions where people are expected to volunteer to go to work,” she said. “It’s overdue.”
Pansecchi is the town's 14th fire chief and has served as a firefighter for 40 years, joining the Alert Hose Co. as an apprentice in 1986 and working his way up through the ranks.
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