DALTON, Mass. — The Board of Health voted to condemn, vacate and secure 96 Anthony Road during its meeting on Wednesday night. 

 

Despite the pleas from the home's occupants, Gary Dill and Cheryl Goodkowsky, the board was concerned about their safety and could not grant another extension. 

 

The board required in September that the couple make a 3-by-3-foot path to the egresses in the kitchen, bathroom, hallway and primary bedroom in addition to cleaning the kitchen and bathroom to meet sanitary standards by Oct. 11. These standards have not been met. 

 

Dill and Goodkowsky were given 48 hours to vacate the home but can return once the safety requirements are met. 

 

Health Agent Agnes Witkowski was unable to complete another inspection of the home due to miscommunication that led to a reschedule and then a cancellation. The last inspection that Witkowski was able to complete was on Sept. 11.  

 

Based on Dill and Goodkowsky responses and the lack of material in the dumpster, it looked as though not much progress had been made to address the board's safety concerns, board members said. 

 

"It doesn't seem like much progress has been made in the last couple of weeks. It sounds more like thoughts and planning and not much action unfortunately," co-Chair Dr. Claudia Colombari said. 

 

Dill and Goodkowsky's health is not good for many reasons but the state of the house is not helping, she said. 

 

"The biggest concern I have is, if they need first responders or an emergency situation should come up that puts more lives in danger trying to get in," Colombari said. 

 

The town has been in communication with Dill for more than a year regarding the outside of the property. The shrubs were overgrown and a pine tree on the property is dead. 

 

The condition of the inside of the house was brought to the town's attention in June following an emergency call. The Fire Department determined that the state of the house was a safety concern.

 

In July, the fire chief emailed the board saying that the state of the home would make it difficult for emergency personnel to enter the building which is dangerous especially in times where time is of the essence. 

 

Given the number of extensions that the board has given them and the amount of time that has passed since the fire chief's email the board did not feel comfortable granting another extension. 

 

The board granted the home's occupants request for extending the deadline to meet safety standards multiple times. 

 

Dill told the board that some progress has been made to cleaning the kitchen. Goodkowsky added that the progress on the kitchen was delayed due to a difference in opinion the duo had on how it should be addressed. 

 

"If there's any way you could extend us a little more time. I know you've been really generous up until now. This is really beyond what you usually do. I really appreciate that but we did run into some problems with it since I've been home and I think we have worked that out," Goodkowsky said. 

 

They have been in communication with Elder Services of Berkshire County to find a company to aid in the cleaning. They told the board they are willing to hire commercial cleaning company ServiceMaster of the Berkshires to aid in the cleaning of the bathroom, hallway, and bedroom but are unsure if they can afford it. 

 

The couple said they were approved for a Neighbor to Neighbor grant to help cover the cost of cleaning services but was informed that the work goes beyond what the company they hired offers. Since they have to receive services from a different company, they are unsure if they have to submit a new application but will be calling Elder Services to inquire how they should proceed. 

 

They have a meeting with ServiceMaster on Monday to determine what services can be completed.

 

Since the last meeting, progress has been made to cleaning the home, Goodkowsky said. Although it has not been brought out to the dumpster she has put together large and small bags of trash. She intended on bringing them out later that day. 

 

The board needs to consider the hardships that the occupants have been going through, Dill said. Forcing them out of their home will make completing the task harder because they do not have transportation. 

 

The structure was condemned but the board said the couple can request a reinspection once the safety requirements are met. Witkowski will also stay in communication with them.