FEMA Awards Over $3.5M to Mass. for COVID-19 Operating Costs

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BOSTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $3.5 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for the cost of steps taken to protect its staff and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The $3,534,633 Public Assistance grant will reimburse MASSDOT for the cost of purchasing plexiglass sneeze guard barriers and signage, disinfection supplies, medical supplies, storage, and personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks, respirators, and face shields between April 2020 and March 2022.
 
The department also contracted for services to disinfect facilities and vehicles.
 
"FEMA is pleased to be able to assist MASSDOT with these costs," said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. "Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the pandemic fight is critical to their success, and to our success as a nation."
 
FEMA's Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency.
 
So far, FEMA has provided more than $1.5 billion in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses.
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Proprietor's Lodge Dock Proposal Continued for Third Time

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A seasonal dock proposal at the Proprietor's Lodge has seen some changes but the neighborhood is still not on board.

Thursday's Conservation Commission meeting included concerns about the viability of the project and a resident accusing the project engineer of putting the public in danger by deeming a concrete wall structurally sound.

"Because of the amount of revisions and changes on what is a schematic drawing, I'm actually concerned. My concern just continues to grow at how viable of a proposal this actually is," abutter Cassidy Carlotto said.

"There are a number of order of conditions that are going behind this and there are a number of pieces in the proposal that continue to change."

A notice of intent application was continued for the third time pending certificates of compliance and the need for updated plans. The restaurant, located at 22 Waubeek Road on Ponstoosuc Lake, would like to install a 12-slip seasonal dock for customers.

An NOI for the same project was denied by the commission in 2019 and the applicant appealed it with the state Department of Environmental Protection, which then issued a superseding order of conditions.

That order has now expired.

Abutters have voiced opposition to the project at all three meetings, citing safety concerns with the right of way used by swimmers.

James Scalise of SK Design explained that there were some "loose ends" to correct after the last meeting. He returned with a couple of changes to the plan after meeting with the state Department of Environmental Protection on-site.

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