BRPC Completes Rehab Work on 14 Sheffield Homes

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SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) announced a total of 14 homes in Sheffield have been successfully rehabilitated through the Housing Rehabilitation Program administered by BRPC on behalf of the Town of Sheffield.
 
The $807,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application was submitted to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) in the spring of 2023 and the program wrapped up on Sept. 30, 2025.
 
Of the 14 homes, the household sizes ranged from one to six people while ages ranged from one year old to 94 years old. Each household had to meet the definition of low- to moderate-income as defined for Berkshire County by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 
 
For a household of four, that was a household income of $87,600 or less. All identifying homeowner information, including their participation in the program, is kept confidential.
 
The type of rehabilitation work for each home was identified through a thorough housing inspection completed by BRPC's Housing Inspector. The work on the 14 homes included items such as new roofing, windows, addressing failing septic systems, lead paint mitigation, new siding, electrical work, and much more. The average cost per home was roughly $57,000.
 
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission was recently engaged by the Town of Sheffield's Select Board to pursue another CDBG application for housing rehabilitation for the coming year. If homeowners, including those outside of Sheffield, are interested in being considered for a future program, they should visit BRPC's website where they can sign up for the Waiting List at the bottom of the page. 

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OSHA: Jacob's Pillow Won't Be Cited for 2025 Employee Death

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

BECKET, Mass.— The Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined that Jacob's Pillow is not responsible for the fatal workplace accident that occurred one year ago

OSHA found no violation of workplace safety and health standards related to the incident, and no citations or penalties were issued. 

On Aug. 1, 2025, 40-year-old Kathryn "Kat" Sirico of Rochester, N.Y., and another employee were moving staging platforms across the property on a dolly when it began to lose control on a sloped area.  Sirico attempted to regain control of the dolly but tripped and fell.  The dolly ran over Sirico, and the platforms fell, landing on them. 

Bystanders attempted life-saving measures, which were unsuccessful. 

OSHA issued an inspection report on Aug. 3 absolving the organization of fault.  The Berkshire Edge obtained and posted the report

On March 6, the determination was communicated in a letter, presumably addressed to Sirico's family, but the addressee is redacted. 

"OSHA has completed its inspection of Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival Inc. and determined that no violation of safety and health standards occurred related to the incident; therefore, no citations or proposed penalties were issued," Acting Area Director Stephanie Smulligan-Maldanis wrote. 

The OSHA report explains that employees were moving Masonite staging on a rolling cart down an incline near the Doris Duke Theatre; the cart began speeding away, and the two employees tried to slow it down by grabbing the cart; it then turned sideways and flipped over. 

Sirico was crushed by the heavy rolling cart. 

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