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Date: 3/2/2021
EASTHAMPTON – Mayor Nicole LaChapelle has extended the order to close public buildings until June 30.
This is the second time that she has extended her order.
LaChapelle told Reminder Publishing that the city has entered into a contract with Honeywell International Inc. to upgrade the buildings to meet the necessary air quality, air circulation, and energy efficiency standards.
The overall report on the buildings’ air quality is completed, according to the mayor, but the city is now awaiting estimates on cost, energy savings and potential air quality improvements. Once the city has a total amount, she would move forward with upgrading the buildings.
“That was a long RFP process because they are very complicated agreements so it was just awarded and the building surveys are just being done. I want more information to see how that works,” LaChapelle said.
She continued to say that the 40 percent occupancy rate that Gov. Charlie Baker is allowing is very important for the city’s buildings not only because of the age of its buildings but because the air circulation inside them is poor.
“We want the air quality to be the very best. It was not great before COVID and then with COVID, it is pretty horrible. It just does meet any basic standards,” she said.
LaChapelle said she hopes that the majority of the construction and improvements will be done by June.
After LaChapelle spoke to Reminder Publishing, Baker announced on Feb. 25 that his administration would allow municipalities to move to Step 2 of Phase 3 on March 1, meaning offices could increase capacity from 40 to 50 percent.
LaChapelle previously said in a prepared public statement that the reopening of City Hall will happen in phases with current Massachusetts guidelines regarding capacity. She added to Reminder Publishing at that time that this phased-in approach would allow more employees at the same time in the building but she would still weigh that against the air quality of their buildings.
As such, if their air quality is not better but the Baker Administration allowed a 50 percent indoor capacity, she would not change the city buildings’ capacity.
LaChapelle also acknowledged that the city’s departments have people working; they are at 40 percent occupancy at any given time.
“As it is now with just employees in the building, we bought $15,000 worth of air scrubbers. They are throughout our building to protect the employees that come in,” she said.
LaChapelle said an important thing to note is that Easthampton’s departments do not have a lot of employees. For example, they only have one treasurer and one tax collector so if one of them were to get sick, they would be out of an employee. She said before COVID-19, it was challenging enough to hire people for municipal hiring and right now it is even more difficult.
“Our employees that are in the building and out of the building, are not ‘front line workers’ and I understand that but to increase their exposure to the public, is something that Easthampton really cannot afford,” LaChapelle said.
LaChapelle said that sometime in April, the city will likely put tents up to have outside appointments and they will be furnished so things are accessible to everyone. She acknowledged that while residents might not be happy with the way services are being offered, the city is still able to provide good customer service.
Also in the prepared statement, it informed residents that the Public Safety Complex lobby at 32 Payson Ave. will continue to be an accessible area to the public. Drug drop-off and firearms licensing processing have been suspended until further notice. The sharps dispensary container has been relocated to the lobby and public contact with police officers will be via the lobby phone.
LaChapelle noted that this extension does not affect the school buildings.
She believes that the district has a very good plan that she feels is safe. Students will be brought back into the classroom in a phased-in approach as the metrics allow.
“While I feel strongly that the residents are getting what they need from government operations, I completely understand the inconvenience but I ask for patience so members of the public and our employees do not become COVID-19 patients,” LaChapelle said.