Williamstown Joins Countywide Board of HealthBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
07:04PM / Tuesday, September 13, 2011 | |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The town is now on board with a countywide Board of Health.
The Board of Selectmen approved Monday signing a intermunicipal agreement that will put them on the board of directors on the newly formed Berkshire Public Health Alliance. The intent, organized by Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and 21 of the county's boards of health, is to share services.
"It's not going to dilute Williamstown's services," Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Assistant Director Tom Matuszko told the board. "There is no financial obligation."
The alliance will either have inspectors employed or work with contractors to provide the towns with services, such as camp or pool inspections that towns need to do but for which there is not enough demand to hire a full-time employee. Another example is public health nurses, which many towns currently do not have, Matuszko said. The larger entity will also have a better chance at reeling in state and federal grants.
"Our hope is the folks of Berkshire County will get better health services," Matuszko said.
Although Health Inspector Jeffrey Kennedy is qualified to do all the needed inspections, having a seat on the board would allow the town to contract in case of an emergency. Kennedy said if there is a large outbreak that endangers public health or if he becomes sick, the town will have the ability to pay for the service from the alliance.
While the exact details are still being worked out through a planning grant, towns would be allowed to contract for single inspections, all of a certain type of inspection or merely a block of time to do anything that is needed. The countywide effort has been in discussion for many years but is just now beginning to take off. The group will soon be applying for an additional planning grant as well as an implementation grant.
"This is an open-ended thing with a total upside and no downside," Town Manager Peter Fohlin said.
In other news, the board approved one-day liquor licenses for Williams College for the football team's home games and a common victualler license for Olympic Pizza. Olympic Pizza was also scheduled to return to the board for a liquor license.
The board also read proclamations to recognize Hunger Action Month and United Nations Day.
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