Williamstown Council on Aging Director Brian O'Grady, seen in this file photo, addressed the Select Board on Monday during its virtual meeting.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The COVID-19 pandemic presents unprecedented challenges for most Americans.
At the Williamstown Council on Aging, they had a little recent experience to draw on.
"This is not our first disaster," COA Director Brian O'Grady told the Select Board during Monday's virtual meeting. "We had problems with all the people who lost their homes during [2011's Tropical Storm] Irene. We kind of had a good idea of what we were going to end up having to do.
"The issue was setting up all the things that didn't exist before. On Friday morning, you're running an exercise class. By Monday, you're trying to find food for people. It's been an interesting dynamic."
Town Manager Jason Hoch invited O'Grady to address the board because the latter has been "an invaluable resource," for Town Hall since the advent of the novel coronavirus crisis in March, Hoch said.
"Brian has been doing yeoman's work, generating updates and adding daily insights for us that go up on our website and Facebook page," Hoch said. "He's done a good job keeping track of a variety of resources in town not only for seniors but, of note, for the entire community."
O'Grady said that although some things have changed — like the suspension of in-person programming at the Harper Center — there is a lot of "business as usual" at the COA, where they continue to provide counseling to older residents.
They also have been doing a few new things, like connecting seniors with volunteer grocery shoppers and obtaining and distributing face masks.
O'Grady credited the Mount Greylock Regional School District with coming through and helping distribute food to seniors as part of the "grab and go" lunch program the district created to continue school lunches right after its three school buildings were closed to students in mid-March.
"And we had grants designed to do other things — like an outdoor walking program or a program called 'Aging Mastery,'" O'Grady said. "What we needed to do was redirect those funds to allow us to purchase food for people, to buy supplies like masks.
"We would never have been able to buy food with a state grant except under these circumstances."
As for residents' emotional needs, O'Grady said the COA is making calls daily to check in with residents, and his grief counselor is available to talk to anyone who needs that service.
"I don't think there's anything we can't do short of physically going over and holding their hand," O'Grady said.
O'Grady told the board that he has been asked to serve on a statewide committee of COA directors to provide recommendations about how to open senior centers under the governor's plan for generally reopening the economy.
As for his agency's internal operations, O'Grady took steps like regularly having the town's COA van sterilized. And that van operates a lot differently than it did two months ago.
"No more than two [passengers] at a time, and we try to keep it to one," O'Grady said. "We've eliminated a lot of the things people like to do. No more trips to the hairdresser. Now, it's all life support activities — medical transport and grocery shopping. We're able to schedule people where one sits in the front, and the other person sits in the back, and everyone wears a mask."
O'Grady said he has supplied reusable masks to everyone at the Meadowvale Apartments, and he is turning his attention to Proprietor's Field and Highland Woods apartments next.
Select Board member Hugh Daley asked O'Grady how many more masks his department needs.
"How many people live in town?" O'Grady replied. "The more the merrier. … If someone needs one, let us know. Don't stay in your house, get out and walk around. After [Tuesday], it's going to be really nice. Get out of your house and go for a walk."
O'Grady said that from his vantage point, Williamstown residents already are following that advice.
"I can tell you that people are not necessarily staying in their homes," he said. "They're wearing masks, they're socially distancing. But they're out there. A majority of people are continuing to do their own thing — with a mask on."
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Brian & his staff are doing a super job! The daily emails are very helpful, too!
Williamstown Fire Committee Talks Station Project Cuts, Truck Replacement
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.
Some of the "value engineering" changes are cosmetic, while at least one pushes off a planned expense into the future.
The committee, which oversees the Fire District, also made plans to hold meetings over the next two Wednesdays to finalize its fiscal year 2025 budget request and other warrant articles for the May 28 annual district meeting. One of those warrant articles could include a request for a new mini rescue truck.
The value engineering changes to the building project originated with the district's Building Committee, which asked the Prudential Committee to review and sign off.
In all, the cuts approved on Wednesday are estimated to trim $1.135 million off the project's price tag.
The biggest ticket items included $250,000 to simplify the exterior masonry, $200,000 to eliminate a side yard shed, $150,000 to switch from a metal roof to asphalt shingles and $75,000 to "white box" certain areas on the second floor of the planned building.
The white boxing means the interior spaces will be built but not finished. So instead of dividing a large space into six bunk rooms and installing two restrooms on the second floor, that space will be left empty and unframed for now.
The Charter Review Committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to endorse an amended version of the compliance provision it drafted to be added to the Town Charter. click for more
Developer David Traggorth asked the trustees to make the contribution from its coffers to help unlock an additional $5.4 million in state funds for the planned 54-unit apartment building at the south end of the Cable Mills site.
click for more
The donors, who wish to remain anonymous, say the gift reflects their desire to not only support Williams but also President Maud S. Mandel's strategic vision and plan for the college.
click for more
Neighbors of a proposed subdivision off Summer Street last week asked the Planning Board to take a critical look at the project, which the residents say is out of scale to the neighborhood. click for more