Dalton Town Employees Gets ADA Training

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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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,   

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Pittsfield Duplex Fire Displaces Six, Kills 2 Cats

Staff Reports

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Six people were displaced, and two cats died in a duplex fire Monday night. 

Just before 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 9, the Pittsfield Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 54-56 Worthington Place. 

Firefighters quickly arrived on the scene and saw smoke showing from the first and second floors of the three-story wood-frame home. 

The main body of fire on the first floor was knocked down within a few minutes, allowing companies to quickly check the remainder of the apartment and complete searches. The remaining fire and hot spots were deemed under control within 30 minutes. 

All occupants were accounted for by Pittsfield Police upon PFD's arrival. Three cats were found in the apartment with the fire, one alive and two deceased. Two dogs made it out of the blaze. 

Four engine companies, a ladder company, and the deputy chief responded. 

"Thanks to quick decisions of the fire apartment occupants to call 911 right away certainly aided in a rapid PFD response from our two closest stations on Columbus Ave and West Housatonic St and saving the structure from severe damage," PFD wrote in a press release. 

"The occupants were upstairs when this fire started and were able to quickly make their way downstairs, past the fire and out the front door safely with no injuries. Three adults, three children, two dogs and a cat were displaced from the two apartments. Red Cross responded and assisted with housing and

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