Letter: Williamstown Planning Board Proposals

Letter to the Editor05:00PM / Wednesday, June 08, 2022Print Story | Email Story

To the Editor:

How many citizens voted at the last town election? How many will vote at the town meeting? Town meeting is quaint AND irrevocably broken.

A holistic approach to town zoning is far preferable. Selectively passing one or two of the failed Planning Board's proposed zoning changes amounts to spot zoning. All related articles should be tabled or voted down.

Here is something to consider if you think the GR proposals, at minimum, are harmless. If you own land that can be divided into two or more now buildable parcels, guess what? Your property taxes will be jacked up because now, your property is "more valuable!" Voila!

These ill-thought out zoning changes have actually sucked the life out of any new real ideas as to how to create affordable housing in "The Village Beautiful." Sadly, instead, all our energy has been wasted on debating these ill-advised Planning Board proposals!

Ken Swiatek
Williamstown, Mass.

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Williamstown Board of Health Hears about Bed Bugs at Highland Woods

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
04:26AM / Friday, September 11, 2026

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Board of Health Tuesday discussed efforts to remediate a bed bug infestation at a senior apartment complex.

Will Raymond was before the board at its monthly meeting to raise awareness of the bugs' presence at the Highland Woods apartments, an income- and age-restricted 40-unit building constructed on land donated by Williams College and opened about 10 years ago.

Raymond said that Pittsfield's Hearthway, Inc., manager of the apartments, has been trying to treat what he characterized as a "low-grade" infestation of the insects, which feed on human blood.

"Hearthway has tried to treat this with their vendor, Orkin, in April, again in June and another spraying two or three weeks ago," Raymond said. "They upped the treatment to take the outlet covers off the walls and get some kind of insecticide into the walls, because the problem is the migration of the bed bugs from unit to unit to unit."

Raymond said he has a friend living at Highland Woods who has an allergy to bed bugs, causing her pain.

"I'm just asking for some follow-up," Raymond said. "[Health Inspector Ruth Russell] maybe can ask them for specifics: What insecticides have they used in the past, and are there alternative treatments they could consider if they're needed?"

Board Chair Devan Bartels and Russell confirmed that the town's health agent has been working with Hearthway on the issue.

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