Methadone Clinic To Open In Pittsfield On Tuesday

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city's first methadone clinic will open on Tuesday.

Spectrum Health Systems announced on Friday that the new outpatient clinic will begin treatment and counseling beginning Oct. 9.

The clinic's Summer Street location had been the cause of controversy since news leaked of the 43-year-old nonprofit health agency's intention to locate a methadone clinic in the downtown. City officials attempts to block the move ended when a federal court found in Spectrum's favor.

Now the company will begin the services that many in the city protested against, fearing the clinic would draw an unsavory clientele and hamper downtown revitalization. The court settlement did ask the company to consider moving to facilities offered by Berkshire Health Systems when space becomes available; city officials are still hoping for that.

Debate has centered mostly around the location and not as much on the need for the clinic. Officials have agreed that the city has an opiod abuse problem and cite statistics that show it has one of the highest per capita rate of abuse in the state.

"There is a need in the treatment community, and Department of Public Health data shows that," Kristin Nolan, Spectrum's director of outpatient services, said in the prepared announcement of the opening. "Local residents will no longer have to travel roundtrip as far away as Springfield and Holyoke on a daily basis to get treatment. That travel time is certainly a hindrance to an individual trying to integrate back into being a productive member of the community."

Spectrum provides counseling, treatment and after-care planning. For more information, contact the intake department at 1-800-464-9555, Ext. 1161.

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Dalton Fire District Votes OK All Articles, Return Incumbents

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
09:27PM / Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Fire Chief Christian Tobin explains the Fire Department budget at Tuesday's annual district meeting. 

DALTON, Mass. — Voters approved all 22 articles on the warrant unanimously at the annual Fire District meeting on Tuesday night at the Stationery Factory.

 

Approximately 75 voters attended the meeting, which lasted a little more than a half hour, to vote on the proposed $3,524,680 budget for fiscal year 2025. 

 

The Fire District and town are two separate governing bodies. The Fire and Water departments are the Fire District's responsibility. The Board of Water Commissioners and the Prudential Committee govern the district.

 

A number of the budget hikes are caused by increases outside the district's control, specifically insurance, Water Commission Chair James Driscoll said during the meeting. 

 

Ambulance and fire proposed a combined budget of $1,873,608, up approximately $360,000. The department's increase is related to competitive wages and stipends, and personnel, all of which aim to improve the district's Property Protection Classification. 

 

In addition to that, just like the other department's in the district, insurance hikes contributed to the increases.

 

Article 9 raised $370,560 to pay the principal and interest on several district loans.