North Adams Library Air Quality Under Question

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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The library trustees were brought up to date on issues with air quality.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. —  An environmental testing company was called into the library recently to test the air quality after a string of staff illnesses.

Library Director Mindy Hackner told the trustees on Monday that some staff began suffering from early stages of pneumonia, sinus issues, asthma and, one case, a full-time employee being hospitalized after bleeding from the nose and mouth.

"Four people called in sick and we were left with barely enough to keep going," Hackner said. "Everyone is having the same problems ... it is like dominoes; it moves right through the staff."

She said no patrons and few volunteers have been affected, only those in the library 40 hours a week. Employees said issues only began after the renovation, which was completed a decade ago.

Hackner said she thought she found black mold but after talking with an environmental scientist believes this unlikely.

Hackner said she knows air filters are changed every six weeks, however, she is unaware of other filters in the building and how the air exchanger brings in fresh air.

She said the test results are still pending.

Hackner also reported that the library will not meet its municipal budget requirement and will have to apply for a waiver. According to the state, the library should be funded at close to $400,000 but is nearly $100,000 short for fiscal 2016.

The state has a requirement to make sure library budgets don't backslide. If communities cannot fund their libraries and do not receive a waiver, their libraries can lose state aid and state services.

Hackner said the city has not met the requirement in eight years; nearly 80 other communities are in the same boat.

She added that she was not worried because the city has made vast improvements to the library budget and has funded capital projects; this shows the city is aiming to meet the minimum.

"We are short but is as not as bad and we are going in the right direction," she said. "They have bumped us up and ... the state knows the city has fallen on hard times and they are being patient."

Hackner said the book sale brought in over $6,500.

Trustee Donald Pecor questioned the book selection process and felt that some of the books sold were fairly new.

Hackner agreed that some books were pulled too early and this may change in the future.

"In this library, I am surprised of how quickly they pull books. They often pull something from 2012 or 2013, which I would I keep a little longer," Hackner said. "They keep a real clean, lean collection."

She said the assistant director is in charge of pulling books and ordering them and she looks to keep books based on what the community wants to read.

Hackner said the elevator is now up and running, however the library has gripes with the inspectors and repair company.

Bay State Elevator Co. failed to install parts in time according to a maintenance contract; this resulted in a failing inspection grade. She said the company works closely with state inspection services and is the only one the library can use.

The mayor was apprised of the situation and she said he felt it would have to be pursued at the state legislative level so the library can utilize another company.

"Everybody was very fed up and they had enough of the whole process ... this is still an issue and something needs to be done," Hackner said. "It has been an issue and we are going to get to the bottom of it."

In other business:

The library launched BiblioBoard, which is a Massachusetts Library Systems research tool that hosts periodicals and out-of-date books. Hackner said it can also support self-published authors.

"We are starting to see them in the city, and it's a way to get their books up and online," she said.

Eight people showed up for the library's first historical tour on Saturday.

"People were really interested," Hackner said "We even made a period costume."

The library made $40 from the tour, which was put aside for maintenance projects. It is hosting tours each Saturday at 3 for a cost of $5.

The first round of tours will end shortly before Thanksgiving. 


Tags: air quality,   elevator,   public library,   

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Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town officials have heaved a sigh of relief with the state's certification of free cash for the first time in more than three years.
 
The town's parade of employees through its financial offices the past few years put it behind on closing out its fiscal years between 2021 and 2023. A new treasurer and two part-time accountants have been working the past year in closing the books and filing with the state.
 
The result is the town will have $571,000 in free cash on hand as it begins budget deliberations. However, town meeting last year voted that any free cash be used to replenish the stabilization account
 
Some $231,000 in stabilization was used last year to reduce the tax rate — draining the account. The town's had minimal reserves for the past nine months.
 
Chairman Robert Norcross said he didn't want residents to think the town was suddenly flush with cash. 
 
"We have to keep in mind that we have no money in the stabilization fund and we now have a free cash, so we have now got to replenish that account," he said. "So it's not like we have this money to spend ... most of it will go into the stabilization fund." 
 
The account's been hit several times over the past few fiscal years in place of free cash, which has normally been used for capital spending, to offset the budget and to refill stabilization. Free cash was last used in fiscal 2020.
 
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