Ruth Russell began her term as Williamstown health inspector on Nov. 13, succeeding Jeff Kennedy, who retired in August after 23 years in the role. Russell’s appointment marks the end of a months-long vacancy and search process by the Town’s government.
The Town posted the job in May but received few applications, in part due to a nationwide shortage of public health professionals, Director of Community Development Andrew Groff told the Record.
“Despite our wide net, and a lot of advertising, the applications were rather slow,” Groff said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been very stressful upon people in the public health field, and there have been a lot of departures.”
While the position remained vacant, the Town signed a shared services agreement with the Berkshire County Public Health Alliance, which provided the Town with essential services, responding to complaints about food safety in restaurants and living conditions in rental properties.
Nevertheless, the lack of a Town health inspector limited the availability of some services. “We recently started a rental pre-inspection program where rental units are inspected prior to a new tenant inhabiting the space — that program has been suspended until we have a health inspector,” Groff said in October.
Russell, the new health inspector, holds a B.S. in environmental science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and previously worked at Clean Harbors Environmental Services, a hazardous waste disposal firm.
In her role, Russell will oversee various aspects of Town health. Over the summer of 2024, for example, she plans to work with the Town’s Conservation Committee to draw weekly samples from local bodies of water including Margaret Lindley Park. The samples will then be tested to ensure the water quality is up to standard. “I love the idea of having a community spot where people can gather and have a safe place to swim that’s also being tested weekly, so they know it’s in the clear,” Russell told the Record.
In her tenure, Russell will also conduct inspections of livestock owned by local residents for the State Department of Agricultural Resources, evaluating the health of animals based on factors such as weight.
She will also examine homes with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, a Berkshire County planning agency that assists with municipalities, to ensure that living conditions are suitable for all Town residents.
In addition, Russell will conduct biannual food sanitation inspections at Town food service facilities with the Berkshire Regional Public Health Alliance and grant annual food service permits to Town establishments.
On Nov. 13, the Town’s government and the government of Great Barrington, Mass., signed an intermunicipal agreement stating that Rebecca Jurczyk, Great Barrington’s health agent, will train Russell. In 2017, the towns signed a similar agreement under which Kennedy trained Jurczyk for her role.
Russell told the Record that she was eager to begin her term.
“I’m happy to be here — happy to serve the town of Williamstown — and I’m excited to get to know all the business owners and folks that live here,” she said.
