Drought Conditions Return to Normal Across Commonwealth

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BOSTON — Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared the end of the drought in the Commonwealth, following five months of normal to above-normal precipitation and record-breaking warmth in January. 
 
All seven regions are at Level 0-Normal Conditions, including the Islands Region, which was previously declared at a Level 2- Significant Drought, and the Northeast and Cape Cod Regions, which were at a Level-1 Mild Drought last month. The declarations are the result of a recommendation issued from a recent meeting of the Drought Management Task Force, comprised of state and federal officials and other entities. 
 
"After nine months of Massachusetts regions experiencing drought conditions, I am pleased to declare that every region has returned to normal," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "We thank those who implemented conservation practices at such a critical time and urge residents to remain conscientious of their water use as we continue to experience more extreme and frequent
 weather events due to the climate crisis."  
 
The month of January brought above-normal rainfall across all regions of the Commonwealth, helping with the recovery of groundwater, streamflow, lakes, and impoundments. Normal Conditions, as outlined
in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, recommends that overall water efficiency practices and emergency planning efforts continue at the local level and that state and local agencies work to review, assess, and improve responses and actions implemented during the drought. With the declaration of Normal Conditions, the Drought Management Task Force will not meet again until a region in the state is experiencing drought conditions. However, state agencies will continue to closely monitor and assess conditions across the Commonwealth.  
 
To help protect Massachusetts' water resources, larger buildings and businesses are asked to conduct water audits to identify areas of leaks and potential water conservation, and residents are asked to reduce indoor water use and address leaks as soon as possible.
 
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will continue to provide technical assistance to municipalities in managing systems, including on the use of emergency connections
and water supplies. 
 
"We appreciate the efforts of both the consumers of water who reduced their demands and our public water systems that are on the frontlines of delivering clean water in sufficient quantities to meet our needs," said MassDEP Acting Commissioner Gary Moran. "We urge consumers to continue their efforts to reduce water demand and help protect our environment whether there is a declared drought or not."
 

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DCF Clears Two Pittsfield High Administrators

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.—The Department of Children and Families has reportedly cleared two Pittsfield High School administrators of misconduct: Dean of Students Molly West and Vice Principal Alison Shepard.

On Friday, School Committee Chair William Cameron confirmed that DCF’s 51A investigation of allegations of abuse or neglect made against PHS Dean of Students Molly West was unsupported.

"(Superintendent Joseph Curtis) told me yesterday that his office has received formal notice from DCF that the agency's investigation of those allegations has been completed, and that the allegations were found to be unsupported," Cameron wrote VIA email.

Earlier in the week, he announced that the first part of a committee-initiated investigation led by Mary-Lou Rup, a retired Superior Court judge, was completed and West, one of the school’s two deans, was cleared by Rup.  

iBerkshires inquired about the DCF investigation running parallel.  On Thursday, Cameron said the district has reason to believe that DCF's investigation has cleared West, but he did not have written confirmation of that assertion.

"I have been told by [interim Deputy Superintendent Matt] Bishop, who is the Pittsfield Public Schools' contact with DCF in these matters, that the agency's investigation of Ms. West was returned with a determination that the allegations made against her were unsupported," he wrote.

"I have not seen formal confirmation of this from DCF. Apparently, its report to Dr. Bishop was provided through a conversation."

The Berkshire Eagle Wednesday night reported that DCF has determined that allegations of misconduct against PHS Vice Principal Alison Shepard were unsupported.  The Eagle also reported that DCF cleared Berkshire Family YMCA staff member Taverick "Tank" Roberson in January and he returned from administrative leave.

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