Hatfield Appoints COVID-19 Assistant Coordinator Ahead of Holiday Surge

HATFIELD -- December 1, 2020, Hatfield Select Board unanimously creates COVID-19 assistant coordinator position, tapping local animal control officer Scott Pomeroy. Acting jointly with the Board of Health at the December 1 meeting, both bodies approved Pomeroy's appointment in back-to-back votes, with the role capped at 20 hours per week and funded through the federal CARES Act, which expires December 31. Town Health Agent Carrie presented three active cases and seven residents in quarantine, citing a November surge of 16 simultaneous cases as evidence that a single contact tracer is insufficient during holiday-season spikes. The board also received a CARES Act accounting showing the town has committed nearly all of its $289,000 allocation, roughly $188,000 to school HVAC upgrades and about $100,000 to other municipal COVID expenses, though the funds have not yet been received. Separately, 350th anniversary coordinator Bobby Betzel confirmed that Luminarium fireworks will proceed December 19, broadcast on KIX 100.9 at 6 p.m. with the display launching at 6:15 p.m., with Billings Way closed and residents urged to watch from their vehicles.