ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Health wants to establish a clearer communication protocol for local emergencies, such as the boil water order issued nearly three weeks ago.
They were informed of the issue by the code enforcement officer but would rather be directly contacted in the chain of communication.
"Any emergency in the town the Board of Health … should be informed of any health-related emergency," board member Bruce Shepley said. "This was one we should have been informed of directly."
The boil order was issued by the state Department of Environmental Protection to the Adams Fire District, a separate governmental body that operates the town's water system. The Board of Selectmen has also expressed a need to have better lines of communication.
Members met on Wednesday for the second time with John Barrett, superintendent of the Adams Fire District. Barrett two weeks ago had gone over the actions taken on water boil order and discussed with the board how the Health Department could be better looped in. This week he handed out documentation connected to that incident.
"I have a bunch of information for you guys, and there is a lot in there," he said. "You guys have a ton of paperwork and if you have any question call me then we can sit down and go over everything."
In late August, the Fire District had been informed that a sample collected from a water storage tank tested for E. coli. A second sample from a residence near the storage tank tested for total coliform bacteria.
Repeat tests taken the very next day and over the week of the tanks, samples from two other residences, and a test of the district’s well did not show any coliform bacteria. But it took days for the state Department of Environmental Protection to finally lift the boil order.
Shepley noted that if the code enforcement officer is out of the office that communication link will not work.
Board member Peter Hoyt agreed and said he didn't get the message about the boil order until far later in the day.
"When you have an emergency there has to be a communication plan in place and how do we contact people," he said. "I didn’t know this was going on … all that needs to be put in place."
Shepley added that this was no fault of Barrett, who followed protocol, but he just wished the board was involved in this protocol even if it had no direct action to take.
"He very clearly said that he was handling it and I think protocol was followed to the T," Shepley said. "He followed his checklist."
Board member David Rhoads asked that a meeting with Emergency Management Director Richard Kleiner be held sooner than later to hash out a communication plan.
"We are the policy people and the state regulation for emergencies is the Board of Health has a seat at the table, not the code enforcement officer," he said. "It is totally appropriate — the board should be informed and should be part of that chart."
The board didn’t have to take any action with the paperwork but merely wanted to take a closer look at the process for its own understanding.
In other business, the board voted to recommend a temporary food vendor permit to the Selectmen.
"I think we are all hinting at something, whatever verbiage we are looking for, that does not dissuade people, but we want people to be responsible," Shepley said.
Unlike North Adams and Pittsfield's policies where applications need to be submitted five business days before an event, the Adams policy is a little more flexible.
It states that late applications may be accepted but are not guaranteed. The board wants to encourage vendors to attend events and this policy would allow them to conduct a late inspection if possible.
The policy will also be attached to facility request forms, so event planners know.
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Adams Review Library, COA and Education Budgets
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — The Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen reviewed the public services, Hoosac Valley Regional School District and McCann Technical School budgets on Tuesday.
The workshop at the Adams Free Library was the third of four joint sessions to review the proposed $19 million fiscal 2025 budget. The first workshop covered general government, executive, finance and technology budgets; the second public works, community development and the Greylock Glen.
The Council on Aging and library budgets have increases for wages, equipment, postage and software. The Memorial Day budget is level-funded at $1,450 for flags and for additional expenses the American Legion might have; it had been used to hire bagpipers who are no longer available.
The COA's budget is up 6.76 percent at $241,166. This covers three full-time positions including the director and five regular per diem van drivers and three backup drivers. Savoy also contracts with the town at a cost of $10,000 a year based on the number of residents using its services.
Director Sarah Fontaine said the governor's budget has increased the amount of funding through the Executive Office of Elder Affairs from $12 to $14 per resident age 60 or older.
"So for Adams, based on the 2020 Census data, says we have 2,442 people 60 and older in town," she said. "So that translates to $34,188 from the state to help manage Council on Aging programs and services."
The COA hired a part-time meal site coordinator using the state funds because it was getting difficult to manage the weekday lunches for several dozen attendees, said Fontaine. "And then as we need program supplies or to pay for certain services, we tap into this grant."
Desroches graduated from the Police Academy on March 22 in the top tier in his class. He's currently in the field training program and assigned to Sgt. Curtis Crane.
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Michael Wynn, who was selected in January to run the center, submitted a level operating budget of $57,500 but said he could pull funding from different lines to ensure there was money for advertising this fall.
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The Selectmen on Wednesday night voted to award the bid to Mackin Construction Co. Inc. of Greenfield, which plans to invest $11 million to build out 20 or more one- and two-bedroom apartments in the three-story classroom wing that parallels Columbia Street.
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The Selectmen two weeks ago had requested the utility appear before the board after receiving numerous complaints over flickering lights, including in Town Hall.
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Taylor Garabedian scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed five rebounds, and Abby Scialabba scored 16 points for the ‘Canes, who got 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists from Ashlyn Lesure. click for more