Great Barrington health inspector position cut, replaced by contracted collaborative services

LENOX — April 16, 2026 — Great Barrington eliminates health inspector position, contracts with regional collaborative for up to 24 hours a week. The Great Barrington Board of Health learned at its April 16 meeting that Town Manager Liz Hartsgrove had cut the in-house health inspector position from the department's budget and arranged contracted replacement services through the Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative, with a potential start date of May 1. The contract, which runs through June 2027 and allows up to 24 hours of inspection services per week, had been sent to the collaborative the afternoon of the meeting but had not yet been signed. Board member Dr. Rudy Kennedy noted the salary savings appeared to be only "$3,000 or $4,000," with the broader cost rationale resting on avoided benefits and insurance expenses. Chair Michael Lanou said neither the board nor the collaborative was consulted before the decision was made, calling the lack of communication "a little disappointing." The three-member board — Lanou, Kennedy, and Peter Stanton — voted 3-0 to approve March minutes and adjourned at 6:49 p.m., scheduling its next meeting virtually for May 14.