PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Board of Health has endorsed a mosquito plan that includes adulticide spraying if necessary. It hopes to gain the City Council's support.

It was emphasized that spraying is for disease, not for nuisance.

"I think we have a really thoughtful plan and we've not decided as a community to become pesticide or herbicide free but we know for sure that there are services out there where those chemicals are being used. That is not this kind of program," Chair Bobbie Elliott said.

"This program, we don't want to have to use adulticide spray. We want to do everything else before we get to that point and the criteria are very strict with when we do that. We don't spray for nuisance."

Health officials have also noted the importance of offering spraying at the municipal level for equity, as many residents cannot afford to hire a private contractor.

Mosquito spraying has been a contentious issue for the last five years, with the City Council taking votes against it and residents polarized — some believing that the spray does more harm than good and others arguing that it is necessary.

After seven mosquitos tested positive for West Nile virus last summer, the board unsuccessfully requested that it be resumed. Parameters for spraying are based on risk levels assigned by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Two residents spoke against spraying during public comment, arguing that a small number of people have serious symptoms from mosquito-borne diseases and that adulticide applications will harm the environment.