Notes from the Stockbridge Board of Health
USPS Reverses Decision; Glendale Post Office to Remain Open
The Stockbridge Select Board, Board of Health, Town Administrator, and Town Counsel; State Representative Smitty Pignatelli, State Senator Adam Hinds, and US Representative Richard Neal all made inquiries. It appears to have an impact but officially no reason was given.
November 18, 2020 Minutes of the Board of Health Meeting
Present: Rae Williams, Henry Schwerner, Charles Kenny. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Kenny electronically at 11:00 AM. The meeting was designated an emergency meeting. No prior agenda was published.
New business: Dr. Kenny notified members of the imminent closure of the Glendale Post Office and the consequent rerouting of its mail to the town’s Post Office. It was agreed that this would bring many extra people into town in an already dangerous epidemic situation and create a hazardous situation with respect to the public health.
A motion was made to consult town counsel to try to stop or at least delay the closure. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by Chairman Kenny at 11:30 AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles Kenny MD, November 18, 2020
Follow-up from Charles Kenny, Chair, Board of Health
Two weeks before Thanksgiving, it was announced that the United States Post Office in Glendale was going to be closed immediately and approximately 100 mailboxes transferred to the Stockbridge Post Office.
The Board of Health held an emergency meeting to discuss the effects of such a closure.
Local boards of health have no jurisdiction on federal property. The Board determined the resultant significant increase in people visiting the already busy facility in town would be counterproductive to the ongoing efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus. The Board voted unanimously to instruct our Town Counsel to act to prevent or at least to delay the closure until the epidemic had been brought under control. The Board also contacted every one of our state and federal representatives to ask each to intercede for similar reasons. The Board of Health worked with the Select Board to accomplish the same purpose.
Town Counsel determined that nothing could be done. Local boards of health have no jurisdiction on federal property. Offices of U.S. Congressman Neal and State Senator Hinds attempted to assist, but because this was deemed to be an “emergency closure”, they found no specific way to assist us.
Subsequently, a notice posted in the Glendale Post Office advised that the relocation was to be delayed “indefinitely”. In spite of inquiries by both boards, no explanation either for the sudden closure announcement or for the indefinite delay has been forthcoming. Such explanations would be valuable in planning relocation and for the safety of the community in general.
The daily new COVID-19 case rate in Massachusetts recently passed the highest number recorded during the surge last Spring. Hospital bed capacities throughout the state are now being used at over 60 percent levels. Berkshire County has just experienced a rapid rise in case numbers.
It has already been a long and taxing year. With the holiday season upon us, we all need to recharge our batteries and bring to bear the same successful effort that brought us safely through the Spring and Summer.