GBPD recruiting additional officers
Great Barrington — The Great Barrington Police Department is looking to recruit additional full-time officers and the Pittsfield Police Department has extended an invitation to a recruitment expo on Thursday, Feb. 9, at 4 p.m. at Taconic High School in Pittsfield. This event is an informative way to have questions answered as well as giving an introduction to the process. The event will begin with displays from the specialty unit and eligibility, application process and training presentations will take place at 6 p.m. A practice civil service exam and physical ability test demo will also take place.
The GBPD is a civil service department and all who participate must take the civil service exam. The next exam is scheduled for Saturday, March 25, and those interested in taking it must register by Tuesday, Feb 21. Questions about the exam can be emailed to civilservice@state.ma.us.
For more information, contact Chief William Walsh at (413) 528-0306 x101 or wwalsh@townofgb.com.
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Berkshire Health Systems, Fairview Hospital flu season precautions for visitors
Great Barrington — Berkshire Health Systems will be implementing visitor restrictions in its acute care hospitals in response to the current flu season. These preliminary measures are designed to protect hospitalized patients from increasing the risk of infection. Children under the age of 18 and those with the symptom of the flu are asked not to visit patients in the hospital. Special circumstances may apply in individual cases.
This restriction does not apply to anyone seeking treatment.
“This is common for this time of year as we see cases of the flu in the community. Our goal is to be proactive in the interests of our patients,” said Donna Wichman, Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Fairview.
In addition to these flu prevention measures that improve patient safety, each Berkshire Health Systems’ facility provides masks and hand sanitizer to encourage family members, friends of patients and the community to maintain the highest infection control standards during the flu season.
Infection control officials also remind the community that it is not too late to get a flu vaccination as an important prevention measure. Flu vaccinations may be obtained at local physician practices and pharmacies.
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Pignatelli files 11 bills for 2017–18 legislative session
Boston — State Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli, D-Lenox, recently filed 11 bills in the 2017–18 state legislative session. The bills cover a variety of topics, including health care, infrastructure investments and the affirmation of fundamental rights for people experiencing homelessness. The bills have been submitted to the clerk’s office to receive bill numbers and committee assignments.
Below are some of highlights of the bills that Rep. Pignatelli filed.
- HD.2156, An Act authorizing dental therapists to expand access to oral health: This bill, cosponsored by 76 other members of the legislature, would authorize dental therapists to practice in Massachusetts. Dental therapists are dental hygienists who, after completing additional training, would be able to deliver basic but critically necessary care to underserved populations in the state and would work under the supervision of a dentist.
- HD.1119, An Act relative to the practice of acupuncture: This bill would expand health insurance coverage for certain empirically supported effective acupuncture services including pain management, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse treatment and nausea. It would also establish a commission to investigate and study the potential for better-integrated use of acupuncture services to expand access, reduce health care costs and provide improved quality of care to Massachusetts residents.
- HD.1109, An Act establishing a local option gasoline and diesel fuel excise: This legislation, endorsed by the Massachusetts Municipal Association, would create a “local option” gasoline tax, styled after the existing hotel/motel tax and meals tax. If a municipality elected to participate, the revenue stream of up to 5 cents per gallon would go to a Municipal Fuel Excise Transportation and Stormwater Fund which would then be used for transportation maintenance and repair and stormwater management within that city or town.
- HD1116, An Act relative to opioid prescribing practices and access to pain management: This bill would complement the work Massachusetts has done on prescription drug safety by promoting real alternatives that relieve pain without fueling addiction. The legislation would require each insurance carrier to have a pain management access plan based on evidence-based pain management guidelines developed by the Health Policy Commission.
- HD.1113, An Act providing a homeless bill of rights: Following in the steps of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Illinois, this bill would establish a bill of rights for the homeless in Massachusetts to ensure that they are not mistreated or denied access to services based solely on their housing status.
- HD.1106, An Act enhancing the volunteer service tax reduction for veterans: This bill would increase the maximum amount of money that veterans can “work off” their property tax from $1,000 to $1,500 in towns that have chosen to participate in the program.
Bills will receive hearings once they have been assigned to legislative committees.
