Fire, police and health departments keeping E.L. safe
Date: 12/22/2008
By Courtney Llewellyn
Reminder Assistant Editor
EAST LONGMEADOW The health and safety of the residents of East Longmeadow continue to be priorities for the Board of Selectmen, and both the fire and police departments. The three departments came together at last Tuesday's meeting to discuss these matters.
Award Received The National Association of Town Watch informed Police Chief Doug Mellis that East Longmeadow became a National Award Winner for its third annual National Night Out event. The night out, which took place in early August, was part of the 25th Annual National Night Out crime, drug and violence prevention program.
Last year, the event brought out an estimated 200 residents. This year, more than 2,000 attended.
"We salute you and your community for a job well done!" wrote Matt Peskin, national project coordinator.
"We had a great turnout," Mellis said, and he thanked all those who put hard work into the event to make it a success, including Al and Susan Grimaldi, who helped promote the Night Out, the social and service clubs who participated and the residents of East Longmeadow for attending.
Medical Reserve Corps Fire Chief Richard J. Brady and Mellis met with the selectmen to see if establishing a Medical Reserve Corps would be something feasible for East Longmeadow. Brady explained that the corps would include doctors, nurses and laymen volunteers to be called upon in the time of a pandemic. The corps would be mobilized to provide medical assistance throughout the town.
Selectman Jack Villamaino suggested making the members of the Medical Reserve Corps uncompensated special municipal employees so they would be covered under the town's insurance.
Jim Driscoll, chair of the Board of Selectmen, stated the board was in favor of creating the corps, pending an approval from Town Counsel James Donahue that the volunteers would be covered by town insurance.
"If and when the town is ready to go forward with it [creating the Medical Reserve Corps], there is seed money set aside for training," Executive Secretary Nick Breault said.
Emergency Operations Center Mellis informed the selectmen that the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which has been housed in the police department's basement, is in the process of being relocated to the center's new home in the building behind the firehouse.
"[The EOC] will be used for emergency management," Brady explained. "The new location would be ideal."
Breault said there will be some costs associated with setting up the EOC in its new home -- things like Internet and phone line hook-ups, etc. -- but there is nothing definitive yet as to what the final numbers will be.
Health Department Health Inspector Fred Kowal informed the selectmen that the Department of Health is currently accepting applications for a summer internship. The deadline to apply for this internship is February. Those interested in applying should visit the Health Inspector's office at Town Hall.
Selectman Joe Townshend, serving as chair of the Board of Health, also noted that all 18 retailers of tobacco products in town passed a Dec. 1 youth access compliance check, with no merchant selling tobacco products to a 16-year-old.
