Great Barrington Board of Health Votes to Enforce Permits Against 27 Food Establishments

LENOX -- June 30, 2026, Great Barrington Board of Health sets hard deadlines to clear a food permit backlog as its health agent of nearly a decade departs. The board voted 3-0 at its June 30 meeting to authorize the Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative to send enforcement letters to roughly 27 food establishments, about 12 that have paid fees but not filed required documentation and approximately 15 that have not applied at all, giving them until July 15 to comply or begin accruing $30-per-week late fees, with cease-and-desist orders to follow for any still non-compliant after July 31. The action was the final formal vote of Health Agent Rebecca Jerzyk, who leaves the role July 6 after nearly 10 years. Board member Dr. Ruby Chang warned the board it must press the town manager for administrative support, saying the department has been reduced to "one person doing a three-person job", a situation she called "not viable." The board also received word that the DEP has agreed to a virtual meeting with Chair Michael Lanoue regarding the Housatonic Water Works treatment facility, which has been fined for missing a remediation completion deadline.