WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Board of Health Tuesday discussed efforts to remediate a bed bug infestation at a senior apartment complex.

 

Will Raymond was before the board at its monthly meeting to raise awareness of the bugs' presence at the Highland Woods apartments, an income- and age-restricted 40-unit building constructed on land donated by Williams College and opened about 10 years ago.

 

Raymond said that Pittsfield's Hearthway, Inc., manager of the apartments, has been trying to treat what he characterized as a "low-grade" infestation of the insects, which feed on human blood.

 

"Hearthway has tried to treat this with their vendor, Orkin, in April, again in June and another spraying two or three weeks ago," Raymond said. "They upped the treatment to take the outlet covers off the walls and get some kind of insecticide into the walls, because the problem is the migration of the bed bugs from unit to unit to unit."

 

Raymond said he has a friend living at Highland Woods who has an allergy to bed bugs, causing her pain.

 

"I'm just asking for some follow-up," Raymond said. "[Health Inspector Ruth Russell] maybe can ask them for specifics: What insecticides have they used in the past, and are there alternative treatments they could consider if they're needed?"

 

Board Chair Devan Bartels and Russell confirmed that the town's health agent has been working with Hearthway on the issue.