Common Ground E-Newsletter
| | Staff Announcements and Accolades | | |
New BRPC Staff
BRPC welcomes a new Associate Planner working on various projects for the environmental and energy team.
Anika Gupta holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and Public Policy, Anika’s coursework includes Global Coastal Change, Energy & Environment, Biodiversity & Conservation, Environmental Policy & Legislation. Anika’s experience includes work in clean energy, sustainability and data analysis.
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Senior Public Health Nurse, Leslie Drager, recently reached 5 years on the BRPC team!
Leslie leads efforts to prevent disease, reduce the effects of preventable chronic diseases and premature death, and improve quality of life. On behalf of the Berkshire Public Health Alliance (BPHA) member municipalities, Leslie provides vaccination clinics, surveillance, disease and health event investigation, and case finding of reportable diseases.
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Principal Planner, Wylie Goodman, recently reached 5 years on the BRPC team!
Wylie Goodman serves as a Principal Planner in Economic Development, assisting Berkshire County municipalities in a range of economic development planning activities at the local and regional levels, including digital access planning and implementation.
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25% Design Development Public Meeting
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is presenting the 25% design development progress for the Natural Bridge State Park Site Improvements project. The presentation will provide an overview of proposed improvements designed to preserve the park’s unique natural, cultural, and industrial history while enhancing visitor safety and accessibility.
The public will be invited to provide comments during the meeting after the presentation by unmuting their microphones or using the chat functionality available through the virtual participation platform. After the meeting, the presentation will be available for viewing on DCR’s Past events for DCR Public Meetings Information web page. DCR encourages the public to share additional feedback, with a deadline for receipt of comments by DCR of July 22nd, 2026. Comments may be submitted via the DCR public comment portal.
If you have agency-related questions or concerns or would like to be added to an email list to receive DCR general or project-specific announcements, please email Mass.Parks@mass.gov or call 617-626-4973.
When: Wednesday, July 8th @ 6pm – 7:30pm. Register for the meeting via Zoom.
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Listening Sessions with State-Owned Land PILOT Commission
The Commission on PILOT for State-Owned Land (SOL), established by Governor Healey through Executive Order 645, is hosting a series of listening sessions in July to solicit feedback on how the state compensates municipalities for state-owned land. The Commission is eager to hear directly from municipal leaders, residents, and other interested stakeholders, and findings from the listening sessions will inform the Commission’s recommendations.
The Commonwealth owns more than half a million acres of land, including state parks and forests, wildlife management areas, beaches, and military training facilities. Because this property is exempt from local taxation, the state administers a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) program that provides payments to municipalities that host eligible state-owned land.
See below for the July session schedule:
• Marion Music Hall: Tuesday, July 14, 10am-11:30am
• Franklin Regional Council of Governments: Thursday, July 16, 5:30pm-7pm
• Holyoke Community College: Monday, July 20, 10am-11:30am
• Berkshire Innovation Center: Friday, July 24, 10am-11:30am
• Orange Town Hall: TBD (tentatively week of July 20)
Additional sessions may be offered in the future depending on demand.
Register for a listening session: Registration for PILOT Listening Sessions. Walk-ins will also be welcome, but those who pre-register will receive materials providing an overview of how the PILOT program works.
You can also use this form if you are unable to attend a listening session but would still like to share your thoughts on the PILOT program with the Commission.
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MassEnviroScreen | Office of Environmental Justice and Equity (OEJE)
The Office of Environmental Justice and Equity (OEJE) officially launched MassEnviroScreen, a GIS-based mapping tool developed and administered by OEJE that uses indicators to produce a MassEnviroScreen Score and provide indicator data for every census block group across the Commonwealth. It is intended to support the guidance and regulations on Cumulative Impact Analysis and Site Suitability assessments.
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Free AI Training for Every MA Resident
The Massachusetts AI Hub and Google have joined forces to unlock new opportunities for residents across the Commonwealth, so you can gain the skills you need to thrive in today’s digital economy.
Massachusetts residents will receive no-cost access to the following Google programs until December 31, 2027:
- Google AI Professional Certificate
- Google AI Essentials
- Google Agile Essentials
- Google Career Certificates (e.g., Data Analytics, IT Support, Project Management)
Learn more about the Google AI Professional training and how to earn a certificate.
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Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)
RCORP supports organizations in rural communities to build the partnerships and foundational capacity needed to develop, implement and sustain a comprehensive system of substance use disorder (SUD) and related services.
Application Deadline: July 8, 2026
Apply for the RCORP through Grants.gov.
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Conservation Partnership Grant Program
The Conservation Partnership Grant Program can help not-for-profit groups acquire interests in land for conservation or recreation purposes. Potential projects fall into one of two categories:
- Acquisition of the fee interest in land or a conservation restriction
- Due diligence costs for donations of land or CRs
If your project is selected, a conservation restriction must be held by a municipal or state agency or another land trust. Appropriate public access must also be provided.
Application Deadline: July 13, 2026
Learn more about this grant program and how to apply.
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AllTrails Stewards Fund
The AllTrails fund is for trail projects that expand outdoor access and preserve outdoor spaces. Grant funds can be used to enhance, maintain, and restore our outdoor spaces.
Application Deadline: July 17, 2026
Applicants can submit applications here. Questions? Contact impact@alltrails.com.
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Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
The BRIC grant program makes federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized tribal governments, and local governments for hazard mitigation activities. It does so by recognizing the need to upgrade and modernize the nation’s infrastructure against the growing risks to communities and the need for natural hazard risk mitigation activities that promote resilience with respect to natural hazards.
Application Deadline: July 23, 2026
Applicants can submit applications through FEMA Grants Outcome (GO).
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Municipal Decarbonization
Municipal Decarbonization Roadmap Assistance offers planning assistance to eligible municipalities for roadmap development to help achieve Climate Leader Community certification.
Application Deadline: July 31, 2026
Learn more on COMMBuys.
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Public Health Planning
Program Manager Jaymie Zapata
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A Tick Bite Can Change Your Life - Prevention is that important.
Ticks are very active right now and ER visits for tick bites are surging -- but prevention is both possible and effective!
About Ticks: Ticks love warm, wet weather, leaf litter, tall grass and wooded areas. Ticks usually stay less than 4 feet from the ground and don’t jump or fly but will latch on to any warm body that brushes by.
These are the ticks we see in Berkshire County today:
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Blacklegged Tick (Deer Tick): Most common and medically significant. Nymphs are poppy-seed sized, while adults are sesame-seed sized. Active year-round, they are primary vectors for Lyme disease, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis.
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American Dog Tick: About the size of a watermelon seed, this tick is found in open, grassy areas. Active from spring to fall, they primarily bite humans as adults and carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
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Lone Star Tick: Recognizable by a white dot on adult females. These ticks are common on Cape Cod and the Islands and are now in the Berkshires, active spring to fall, and are known for transmitting alpha-gal syndrome (a red meat allergy that can be life-long).
Ticks carry many diseases
Ticks carry several life-threatening diseases and some of them are life changing.
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Untreated Lyme Disease is the most common in Berkshire County. Symptoms are often mistaken for other flu-like illnesses with fever, joint pain, profound fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes without ever developing a rash.
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Alpha Gha Syndrome (AGS) is a carbohydrate allergen in the lone star tick saliva, so AGS is likely transmitted immediately after the tick attaches, unlike most of the other tickborne diseases. There is no known cure. Medical providers can treat the symptoms and patients must avoid red meat and sometimes dairy.
Take Sensible Precautions
Ticks hate dry weather and don’t like to crawl more than 3 feet. They move very fast in hot weather. Avoid their favorite habitats, use a tick repellent, wear light color clothing, do frequent tick checks and shower or change your clothes right after being in tick-friendly areas.
If you find a tick, don’t panic. Remove the tick asap with very fine pointed tweezers, grabbing only the head as close to the skin as possible, and pulling straight back without twisting. Don’t pull on the body as this can push more disease from the tick into your body. If the head remains, try to gently remove it. Clean and treat the area with antiseptic. Consult your medical provider about treatment. You can save the tick and send it in for testing if not too smashed. Tick identification and testing services available here.
More Information:
About Alpha-gal Syndrome | Alpha-gal Syndrome | CDC
Chronic Symptoms and Lyme Disease | Lyme Disease | CDC
Outdoor Illinois Journal: Understanding Alpha-Gal Syndrome: A Closer Look at the Lesser-Known Food Allergy in Illinois
Tick-borne disease prevention | Mass.govTickreport.com: Cost Effective Tick Testing for Tick Borne Diseases in 2 to 3 Business Days
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Public Health Services
Program Manager Lydia Shulman
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Summer Inspection Safety
As health inspectors / agents we constantly face safety concerns and challenges, however summer offers some unique obstacles. Whether it is the heat, sudden storms, or insect bites, it is important to recognize potential hazards before they become a problem. The summer months are especially busy and it is easy to overlook things, but it is important that at the end of the workday we make it home safely.
With temperatures rising it is important to remember to wear light-weight full-cover clothing, use sunscreen, seek shade or a cool environment when needed, and stay hydrated. It is also important to recognize when heat exhaustion or heat stroke may be setting in. Heat exhaustion is characterized by heavy sweating, a fast weak pulse, thirst, nausea, and headaches to name a few. If you or someone else are experiencing these symptoms it is important to move to a cooler place, take small sips of water, loosen clothing, and place cold and wet cold cloth on your body to stay cool. Heat stroke is characterized by dry skin, confusion, loss of consciousness, a fast strong pulse, and a body temperature of 103°F. If someone is experiencing heat stroke, call 911 immediately, move them to a cool place, remove extra layers, and apply cool wet cloth to lower body temperature. It is important to stay hydrated and take frequent breaks, especially during the hottest part of the day. Temperature can also affect your inspection equipment, exposure to high heat for extended periods of time can throw off the calibration of thermometers and cause test chemicals to be less accurate.
Temperature isn’t the only concern, weather this time of year can change suddenly. It is important to check weather reports and look for signs of heavy rain and thunderstorms. Lightning can strike from several miles away. If your hair stands up or you feel the static electricity this may be a critical warning sign that lightning may be about to strike nearby. It is important to seek shelter immediately, run to a fully enclosed building (like a house) or a hard-topped, all-metal vehicle. If you cannot reach shelter, assume the lightning position by crouching down into a ball as low to the ground as possible, with your feet together and your head tucked toward your knees. You want to make yourself the smallest possible target while minimizing contact with the ground. Most importantly, do not seek shelter under a tree.
Field work also brings with it the risk of insect bites and stings. Over the last few years, the tick population throughout Berkshire County has risen, as well as the frequency of Lyme Disease. New species of ticks are making their way north and with them come new disease like Alpha-gal Syndrome, which can cause severe allergic reactions to the alpha-gal sugar molecule found in mammals. It is important to use insect spray and treat your clothing with permethrin sprays to limit exposure. When you get home, perform a thorough tick check and use tape or a sticky lint roller to remove small ticks that may not be easily visible. If you find a tick attached, lift straight up with steady pressure until the tick releases making sure not to twist or separate the head from the body, and place the tick in a plastic bag for later testing. Wash the bite area thoroughly and monitor for a rash or other signs of infection. Contact a medical professional if signs or symptoms appear.
As always, reach out to the Berkshire-Hampden Public Health Training Hub for support. Please email us at traininghub@berkshireplanning.org with any questions. Stay safe and have a happy summer.
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Transportation Planning
Program Manager Clete Kus
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Town of Lee Awarded Grant Funding to Launch Berkshire Bikeshare System
As part of its continued commitment to improving transportation networks across the region and advancing innovative mobility solutions, BRPC is proud to announce that the Town of Lee has been awarded funding through the Shared Streets & Spaces Grant Program for the launch of the Berkshire Bikeshare System Pilot Program.
BRPC provided technical assistance and support throughout the development and submission of the grant application, which was submitted by the Town of Lee in January. The award represents an important milestone in the ongoing effort to expand multi-modal transportation options in Berkshire County and improve connectivity for residents and visitors alike.
The Berkshire Bikeshare System Pilot Program builds on years of planning and collaboration across the region. Our collective efforts will soon launch a transportation system that will help move the Berkshire Bikeshare System Pilot Program from concept to implementation.
This achievement would not have been possible without the strong backing of community partners, municipal leaders, and regional organizations. BRPC and the Town of Lee would like to extend sincere thanks to the many stakeholders who provided letters of support for the application.
Communities interested in working with BRPC to pursue grant funding, conduct transportation studies, improve bicycle and pedestrian safety, or learn more about bikeshare or joining the pilot program are encouraged to reach out to Ryan Griffis for more information.
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Data & Information Services
Program Manager Mark Maloy
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2026 Burn Permits
The 2026 Open Burning season ended on May 1st, and the Berkshire County Burn Permit system issued 8,717 permits across 28 communities. This number is similar to the number of permits in previous years. This year, permitting increased significantly in April, when it normally sees an uptick in mid-March. Most communities now require residents to use the online burn permit system, with only 3% of permits issued by the local fire department or sheriff's office, down from 6%.
If your community doesn't participate in this system, BRPC can add them to the system for next year. Reach out to your local fire department and ask them to join. For more information, contact Mark Maloy.
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Environmental & Energy Planning
Program Manager Melissa Provencher
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Solar and BESS Technical Assistance
BRPC is reaching out to our municipal partners to gauge your interest and level of need for technical support in preparing to adopt the new Clean Energy Siting and Permitting regulations. We know that the changes to the Solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) siting regulations have been moving quickly, and this has made it difficult to keep up. We also know that this is a concern for many of the Berkshire communities, especially the timeline and the speed in which cities and towns are required to act.
DOER is working with Regional Planning Agencies to provide technical support in preparation for the October 1st deadline to begin accepting applications. BRPC has been awarded funding to provide technical assistance to aid in the adoption of the new guidelines.
If your municipality is interested in technical support, we would like to know your identified needs, whether you are working on a revised or new bylaw as part of your adoption, and whether your municipality intends to hold a special town meeting this fall to pass a new bylaw.
Please direct your questions and interest to CJ Hoss and Sherdyl Fernandez-Aubert.
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