Dalton Town Employees Gets ADA Training

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
10:49AM / Saturday, March 16, 2024Print Story | Email Story

DALTON, Mass. — Municipal employees will have the option to participate in Americans with Disabilities Act training.

ADA coordinator Alyssa Maschino informed the ADA Committee on Monday that Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson approved the idea and is currently in the planning process.

The virtual training will cover state ADA requirements, ensuring program accessibility for people with disabilities, and the reasonable modification process.

The training is led by Julia O'Leary, general counsel for Massachusetts Office on Disability. The Office on Disability "provides information, guidance, and training on disability-related civil rights and obligations," the state website says.

A lot of people are used to being able to walk upstairs and being mobile, so they are not thinking about how their surroundings affect people with mobile disabilities, committee member Edward "Bud" Hall said.

This will give town employees a better understanding of what is compliant and what is not,

"A lot of people are just used to the everyday walking upstairs, running into the building, not thinking about, what about the other person that can't do it. So this just will probably give them insight and hopefully helping

Maschino and Hutcheson are considering holding the training during the monthly staff meeting on the third Wednesday of each month.

Although the training is an hour and "I feel like everyone should really take the time to do it" it is unclear if the town can make it mandatory, Maschino said.

In other news, the committee signed a letter recommending the town install sidewalks on Orchard Road.

Tags: ADA,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

Greylock Youth SummerFest

Come join in on the wealth building fun! August 3-8. Click for event details. Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Invited to 'Senior Study' with MSBA

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:49AM / Friday, August 14, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Public Schools has been invited to engage in a study with the Massachusetts School Building Authority as it requests funds to repair Pittsfield High.

Superintendent Latifah Phillips delivered the news to the School Building Needs Commission last week. Pittsfield has been invited to engage in a senior study where enrollment, program, and facility issues are reviewed.

While this is a good sign, it doesn't mean that PPS's proposal was accepted.

"We're still not invited into the grant program, but this is still a positive step," Phillips said.

The city is pursuing a statement of interest to the MSBA, a quasi-independent government agency, to cover up to 80 percent of the cost for renovations.

In July, the School Committee received a report card on the 1931 building's physical condition, which was described as "poor" and in need of restoration to its original character.

The senior study team will have consultants and senior architects with extensive knowledge of building systems and educational programs, Phillips said. They will visit PHS and Taconic for a few hours at the end of September.

A summation of the 284,301-square-foot building at 300 East St. describes it as being "in poor condition overall," but the condition of the finishes and overall quality of the school is said to reflect the age at which it was constructed.

"The site has issues with its asphalt paving, causing accessibility and safety concerns. The fields are in good condition. The sidewalks around the building appear to be in poor condition, with accessibility updates necessary. ADA ramps are in poor condition," it reads.

View Full Story