GREENFIELD — The executive director of Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) says her staff is working tirelessly to provide the services it always has, prepare for the coronavirus if it reaches Franklin County and keep things as normal as possible.
Linda Dunlavy said FRCOG’s emergency preparedness staff is working incredibly hard and is “flat out.” She said they are on daily calls with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the state Department of Public Health.
“We are deploying emergency preparedness supplies all over the region,” she said. “We’re in contact with Homeland Security Council, asking for more money for more supplies that we will provide to local municipalities and hospitals.”
She said the public health nurse, Lisa White, is preparing for the first confirmed case in Franklin County, if and when it arrives, and how everyone will deal with it, as well as what role public nursing will play.
“We are meeting regularly and working with everyone we need to be working with,” she said. “We’re checking to make sure we’re doing what we need to do the way we need to do it.”
Dunlavy said it will most likely get more chaotic before it gets better, but hopes everyone will follow the direction of state and local officials and health care professionals.
Annual Town Meetings will most likely be delayed, she added, and towns won’t get their fiscal year 2021 budgets approved in time.
“It’s a new issue every day,” she said. “We do have to continue to do our bids, though, because towns are going to need to have those in place for summer maintenance work, so we’re working with the state on that as well.”
Dunlavy said starting last week, FRCOG began working on a staggered schedule, with half the staff working in the office and half at home at a time.
“Our building has a great configuration, so the half of us who are working can still practice social distancing,” Dunlavy said.
The office is closed to the public except by appointment. She said meetings will also be held as necessary, but will not include the public.
“Things change by the hour, so we’re still trying to figure out some of the details,” she said.
Dunlavy said the building inspection program will try to stay as effective as possible. It has eliminated all indoor inspections at this point, but will continue to take applications and will do outdoor inspections. She said she’s not yet sure whether the lack of indoor inspections will eventually affect projects.
“The Planning Department has canceled all public forums and meetings,” she said. “We do have some concerns about grants that require us to hold forums and meetings, so we’re working with our legislators on extensions for those.”
FRCOG is a regional service organization serving the 26 towns of Franklin County. It operates 12 programs with more than 40 staff. Its annual operating budget is approximately $3 million, and the organization’s focus is overseen and directed by a 29-member council.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-0261, ext. 269 or afritz@recorder.com.