Executive Director Jim Wilusz reported on several issues: Tri-Town is now part of a larger, 12-town collaborative providing nursing services including blood pressure readings, flu shots, and more. The collaborative is searching for a foot care practitioner to meet a growing need. It is also waiting for the new COVID vaccine. Wilusz added that no arbovirus has been reported in Berkshire County.
Cyanobacteria and Stockbridge Bowl: TTHD recently acquired a fluorometer with the assistance and funding from all three towns and today underwent training to use it with GZA. With this instrument, the TTHD will be able to distinguish a visible scum on the water surface caused by harmful cyanobacteria from one caused by innocuous green algae.
Prior to the acquisition of the fluorometer, TTHD issued an advisory, closed water activities in the whole lake, and kept the advisory in place for days until officials could determine if it was cyanobacteria. TTHD now can determine that almost immediately and still ensure the public health and safety. All three towns contributed to the $5000 purchase, and it will be used in Laurel Lake, Stockbridge Bowl, and Goose Pond.
The trucks carrying PCBs: The TTBH voted unanimously to hold an educational session on the transportation of the PCBs through our Towns. The doctors on the Board mentioned several potential health risks: diesel fumes, noise, possibility of accidents and spills. They asked if the truck beds will be lined? Will they be covered in tarps (to prevent air-borne contamination)? How heavy will the trucks be; too heavy for country roads?
At the dredging and loading locations where the high, medium, and low PCB concentrations are separated — how is that done? What equipment? What possibility for spills and spreading contaminated sludge?
Are the truck routes an issue with which TTBH should be involved? Are our roads sufficient to carry the loads?
Should TTBH hire experts to monitor the dredging, loading, and transporting. Should TTBH invite EPA to a meeting to clarify exactly what is going to happen and how best can TTBH get involved to ensure the public health and safety.
Suggestions: was the educational process flawed so that TTBH and the public was not well-informed? Should the PCB sludge be transported by train rather than trucks? This was a lengthy and wide-ranging discussion.
Editor’s note: From attending multiple meetings, SU learned that TTBH is searching for a foot care practitioner because they have so many patients in need, and the Council on Aging has found one but fears they don’t have enough patients to bring her on. They should get together. 2. At another meeting, SU learned the EPA has grant money available to pay for experts to oversee the PCB cleanup. TTBH could apply.
