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Adams Board of Health Updates Fee Schedule

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Health accepted a revised fee schedule that adds a cost for additional visits from the code enforcement officer.

The board last week approved some revisions to the fee schedule, originally accepted in 2016, that would bring the schedule in line with the scheduling system shared with nine communities. 
 
One more substantial change: Code Enforcement Officer Mark Blaisdell included a Code Enforcement Compliance Reinspection fee of $20 after the third and subsequent visits.
 
"There are instances when I have to go out to a residence or business after an issuance on multiple occasions so it makes sense," he said. "In other communities, we charged for three or more."
 
He said he has included these consequences on orders to encourage compliance in his past positions.
 
"The hope is compliance will occur sooner if there are fines or fees with further visits," he said. 
 
Chairman David Rhoads felt the change was a good thing that would create consistency across the schedule.
 
"It brings the inspections in harmony with the rentals," he said.
 
The full schedule can be found here.
 
In other business, Rhoads gave a COVID-19 update. With cases rising in the Berkshires, he urged residents to continue to practice caution.
 
"I think everybody knows that we are in dire straits. The governor has ramped us back," he said. "Numbers were looking bad last month, and now they are looking absolutely terrible."
 
Rhoads said by his research, the majority of cases seemed to be stemming more from nursing homes and allowable indoor dining.
 
"Please keep your distance, use all of the proper hygiene techniques, and please wear a mask," he said. "As we go into the indoor seasons, stricter adherence is really called for."
 

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Aisling Mountain Farm Owners Say Town Scrutiny Has Damaged Business

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Christian Rowe with Sofie, one of its therapy horses. One of its herd had to be sold off because the farm had to pull back on therapy services. 
ADAMS, Mass. — What began as a dispute between neighboring property owners has escalated into a prolonged conflict spanning multiple town boards and departments, leading Aisling Mountain Farm's operators to question whether some officials have overstepped their authority.
 
Farm owner Kathryn Foley purchased the 22-acre property at 185 West Road in 2019 to establish an equestrian facility at the base of Mount Greylock. The farm offers horse boarding and leasing services and, until recently, also provided riding lessons and equine therapy.
 
For several years, Foley and her boyfriend, Christian Rowe, who serves as the farm's estate manager, say they have faced a pattern of harassment, false reporting, and alleged misuse of authority by certain municipal employees. 
 
These actions have been compounded by a separate dispute with the company that constructed the riding arena over unforeseen permitting requirements, which have interfered with the farm's ability to provide some of its services, resulting in the closure of its animal-assisted psychotherapy services and riding lessons. 
 
"I have done everything to try to work quietly with the town, with the company … I am not about causing drama … My whole profession is helping people, and that's all I want to do, and I want to do things right, and I want to do my job the right way for people because that's what they deserve," Foley said. 
 
"It breaks my heart that nobody's getting their services, and the last thing I want to do is create a bunch of extra drama around this."
 
The farm had to sell one of its horses, May, who was frequently used in therapy. Its remaining horses include Guinness, Monty, Asher and Sofie, along with miniature therapy horses Latte and Knick Knack.
 
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