WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Board of Health on Monday morning authorized the health inspector to take a more forceful tone in seeking resolution to an ongoing issue at the 1896 House Inn on Cold Spring Road.

 

Since the summer, the board has been trying to get the proprietor of the Cold Spring Road (Route 7) motel to address electrical issues that pose a potential safety hazard to guests.

 

On Monday morning, Health Inspector Ruth Russell told the body that the owner of the inn has not been forthcoming with the town about a plan to fully address the issues.

 

"As we know, they updated the outlets, as we asked," Russell said. "As I heard from the wiring inspector, we're still waiting for them to upgrade the system to 400 amps. As that was technically part of our letter, I want to bring attention to it.

 

"I know [electrical inspector Joe Beverly] has been moderately in touch with them, but he hasn't heard when the upgrade will happen. We know he's eager to hear that, as are we."

 

Russell told the board that she and other town officials have "struggled" to get answers from the owners of the 1896 House.

 

BOH members expressed frustration with the pace of progress on an issue that has been on the panel's plate since early September.

 

"This has been going on a long time now," Chair Erwin Stuebner said. "I think we've given them a lot of leeway to respond to us. I think maybe we need a stronger communication from us to give a deadline to at least respond to us and give us a plan of action."

 

James Parkinson said it might be time to threaten the inn's owners with enforcement action if they continue to not be specific about their plan.

 

"It's not my style, but should we say, 'or else,' " Parkinson said, referring to the letter Russell is drafting. "I know we want to try to help them, but, as I said the last meeting, it seems like [Russell is] doing all the work, and they're dragging their feet."

 

Sandra Goodbody said she "totally agree[d]" with Parkinson and said the 1896 House's management has been "casual" about the need to comply with the building code.

 

"Unless I'm missing something, they've really been radio silent?" Goodbody asked Russell at one point.

 

"I've asked them to give a summary [of the action plan]," Russell said. "They did provide a little info [via emai]. It was just a bit vague for our liking.

 

"I think the other enforcement people agreed. We were clear what we wanted to see. … it just wasn't as robust a plan as what we asked for."

 

Parkinson asked whether the board could fine the motel for noncompliance with the order. Russell said it could and read the relevant section of town code, which specifies fines of $100 for the first violation, $200 for a second and $300 for each additional violation thereafter; each day of noncompliance is a separate violation, the town code specifies.

 

Devan Bartels recommended that Russell talk to Beverly about what a reasonable timeline would be to comply with the town's order — given the availability of skilled labor and parts — and spell out in the letter when fines would begin accruing.

 

"We can state in the letter that if the fine structure is not adhered to, the Board of Health has authority to shut the operation down," Stuebner said.

 

Russell said she would express that sentiment, referencing the proper language in Massachusetts General Law.

 

"We'd like you to know you have our backing in being aggressive," Parkinson said.

 

"We've given an enormous amount of patience on our part and a long period of time," Goodbody followed up. "They have done nothing to cooperate with us — or taken extremely limited action."

 

The board also briefly discussed an unrelated but continuing issue at the '6 House Pub, which has the same ownership as the inn.

 

Russell noted that the eatery has been under a boil water order for about a year after a well failure. She said she is waiting for clarification from the state Department of Environmental Protection about the '6 House's permit to operate a new well to be dug across Route 7 from the restaurant.

 

She said as far as she knows the '6 House has been following the protocol for the boiled water order previously agreed to by the Board of Health but that she would schedule a visit in the near future to check on compliance with those procedures.

 

The Board of Health took one vote, signing off on a subdivision plan for a Summer Street lot that Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity is looking to develop in conjunction with the trustees of the town's Affordable Housing Trust.

 

Charlie LaBatt of civil engineering firm Guntlow and Associates told the board that its review is part of the town's subdivision control bylaw, likely because subdivisions often involve the use of well water and septic.

 

In the case of the Summer Street project, that is not an issue since the plan is to add all four houses to the town's water and sewer systems, LaBatt explained.

 

He took the time to walk the board through a brief history of the approval process for the project, including a mention of the appeal of the local Conservation Commission's order of conditions that ended in Mass DEP approving essentially the same conditions for the multiyear project.

 

Stueber asked why abutters of the town-owned lot appealed the Con Comm's decision.

 

"Generally speaking, the voiced concerns were worried about drainage and stuff like that, although most of the neighbors are hydraulically above most of these [building] sites," LaBatt said. "There may have been a concern about the density.

 

"But in my experience with Williamstown subdivisions, which is now 27 or 28 years, any residential subdivision is difficult for neighbors to get used to."

 

The Board of Health voted 5-0 to send its OK for the project along to the Planning Board, which is scheduled to take up the final development plan review at its Tuesday, Jan. 14, meeting.

 

In other business on Monday, the Board of Health returned to an issue with a residence on Longview Terrace, where neighbors brought the town concern about hygiene on the property and safety for its lone resident, a senior citizen.

 

Russell told the board she is coordinating with the Council on Aging and Elder Services to address the issue. A recent visit scheduled with the occupant was unable to take place because the resident was away from the home for medical reasons, Russell told the board. But she said a visual inspection from the outside and looking through the windows confirmed that there are rodent issues that need to be addressed.