Results of Southern Berkshire Emergency Medical Services study to be presented
Great Barrington — The public is invited to a presentation of the Emergency Medical Service Organizational Analysis of the Southern Berkshire Region Tuesday, April 16, at 6 p.m. at the Great Barrington Fire Department, 37 State Road. This is the final report of a project that is a collaborative community effort to address rural emergency medical services capacity.
In February 2018, leadership from the 12 towns of the Southern Berkshires along with local officials representing public safety, emergency medical services and Fairview Hospital, met with Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli, D-Lenox, to discuss the current state of EMS capabilities in Southern Berkshire County. Following these discussions, Pignatelli, with the support of Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, received state funding to conduct a review of the Southern Berkshire region’s EMS capabilities, challenges and opportunities.
A subcommittee of the Southern Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee, an established network of emergency and safety officials that meets monthly at Fairview Hospital, selected the firm of Hanifen and Associates for a comprehensive review of the Southern Berkshire region’s emergency medical services status. Hanifen and Associates provides consulting services in a variety of disciplines related to fire administration and emergency services, specifically organizational analysis of fire and EMS organizations, to communities and businesses.
The presentation will include the results of the study including an evaluation of the current strengths and gaps of local EMS and first responder agencies, the feasibility of shared regional EMS, and recommendations of best practice from other regions that offer strategies to build local capacity and capabilities. There is no cost to attend. There will be a limited number of copies of the report available.
For more information or to request a copy of the report, contact Heather Barbieri, director of emergency management at Fairview Hospital, at (413) 854-9656.
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Open Space Task Force seeks members
Great Barrington — The town of Great Barrington is seeking interested residents to serve on the 2019 Open Space and Recreation Plan Task Force.
The OSRP is updated every five years and examines how existing recreation and assets meet the changing open space and recreation needs of the community. The task force leads a collaborative process to engage the community and gather feedback about citizens’ open space/recreation needs and priorities, and establishes an action plan to help meet those needs.
The OSRP task force will convene in April 2019 and be active for approximately nine to 12 months.
Please send a letter of interest with a description of your background by email (preferred) to hkuziemko@townofgb.org or by mail to Jennifer Tabakin, 334 Main St., Great Barrington, MA, 01230, by Friday, April 19, 2019.
