New benefits administrator chosen at selectmen's meeting

Date: 12/7/2009

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Managing Editor



EAST LONGMEADOW -- Officers from the East Longmeadow Police Department are appealing to the town for help.

But in this case they're not looking for a suspect or seeking tips to solve a crime.

The officers are seeking businesses and individuals who are willing to help them raise the necessary funds to convert a room in the station's basement into a workout facility which would be open to officers before and after every shift, seven days a week.

Their goal is to raise $15,000 by June 2010 to outfit the room with two treadmills or elliptical trainers, a universal machine, free weights and mats. The project has the blessing of both Police Chief Douglas Mellis and the Board of Selectmen.

"Most other town's [police departments] have that facility, as does our fire department, but not [our] police department," Selectman Jim Driscoll told Reminder Publications. "There is a physical demand on being a police officer and fireman in town, and we have to help them to be ready [for their jobs]."

Driscoll referred to this current fundraising appeal as "a town-sponsored endeavor."

Officer Steven Manning told Reminder Publications that he and a fellow officer approached the chief and the Board of Selectmen several months ago with the idea of converting a basement storage room at the station into a workout space. The room under consideration is adjacent to the station's newly-renovated locker room and shower facility.

He said officers currently have have permission to use the Fire Department's workout equipment, but the hours of access and requirement that two officers work out together makes it difficult for most of them to take advantage of this option

Manning said he also broached the idea with the Selectmen of approaching local businesses for donations to defray the cost of equipment for the room.

"They were 100 percent for it," Manning said of the selectmen's reaction to both the room conversion and proposed fundraising efforts.

Manning then drafted a fundraising letter, which he mailed to about 15 local businesses.

"We did get about $400 from the letters [and] recently we got $1,000 from an anonymous donor," he said.

He recently went back to the selectmen to ask permission to go public with the fundraising, and got an OK.

Manning said he and some fellow officers have volunteered to erect the drywall, run the power lines and do the painting necessary to get the room ready for its new use. They will also adjust their equipment plans to reflect the amount of monies raised.

"If we end up with just the $1,400, we could buy a universal gym," he said.

Driscoll said individuals and businesses interested in donating to the police gym fundraiser should make checks payable to the Town of East Longmeadow, with the words "ELPD Gym" in the memo section. Checks should be mailed to the Selectmen's Office, Town Hall, 60 Center Square, East Longmeadow, MA 01028.