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Date: 2/8/2022
SOUTHAMPTON – The Southampton Selectboard met to discuss a variety of agenda items including COVID-19 cases in the town and in-home rapid test distribution on Feb. 1.
According to Town Administrator Ed Gibson, Southampton has received the first shipment of these tests and has started the distribution process.
“We do expect to receive the second order of these home test kits at the beginning of next week,” said Gibson.
Gibson said that so far town employees and the highway department have received their test kits. Each kit contains two COVID-19 rapid tests.
One hundred kits will be given to the Council on Aging for senior citizens, 50 for elderly housing, 200 for William E. Norris School, 50 for Hampshire Regional and Smith Vocational as well as some for the Community Cupboard, the Police Department and the town library.
COVID-19 cases also continue to decline in the town after a rapid uptick during December 2021.
“Numbers are still dropping dramatically much like they did last year, however, the caveat with that is if you look at where they’ve dropped to and from, they’re still higher than they were a year ago,” said Gibson.
However, with the number of people now doing in-home testing that is not required to be reported, town-wide case data may be inaccurate. Hospitals continue to still be in “code red” and COVID-19 is still a huge problem within the town, said Gibson.
Gibson, along with the Selectboard, encouraged residents to continue to be vigilant in following safety guidelines and to get vaccinated.
The town has also seen the last of their Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) invoices come through, according to Gibson. He said that they will begin preparing their final report and allocating funds.
In fiscal year 2021, much of the CARES Act funding went toward William E. Norris School. Gibson said that $12,501 went toward HVAC repairs, $450 toward mold testing and more than $4,000 for actual mold remediation. Around $32,000 was also allocated to school nurses and $6,000 for nurses who were transferred to the district due to COVID-19.
The East Street Bridge repair has also had some issues with pillars. According to Gibson, two pillars ended up being driven down lower into the ground than anticipated which caused a slight redesign in the bridge plans. He said that the contractor has ordered the necessary rebar and materials and the project continues to proceed.