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Date: 8/17/2022
PALMER – The Palmer Town Council met to discuss agenda items pertaining to the new Animal Control Building, Board of Health Funding, new Police Department hires and more at their Aug. 8 meeting.
Health Agent Department Head Christina Florence first gave an update on the Regional Health Grant. Florence said that the first meeting with the town regarding this grant was set to take place on Aug. 9 and she would report back with updates afterward.
She also shared that the Board of Health has received a grant for $295,000 a year for shared services. This funding is guaranteed for three years and is renewable for up to a nine-year contract. Palmer would be the lead community for this grant and the partners would be Ludlow, Warren and West Brookfield.
The town has received information about the opioid settlement. They have received $11,000 and will be receiving $38,000 more. This funding will be used for different programs for opioid awareness and use prevention.
Florence also noted that the town has begun working on the 2002 to 2004 Palmer Rd. properties that needed an asbestos survey. They are looking for bids for the demolition and will be going to the DEP (Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection) the week following the meeting so they can get approval to take the properties down.
They will also be doing an asbestos survey on 234 Flynt St. to be able to demolish it and have it go out to a tax title.
Florence then gave an update on the Animal Control facility. She said that they have received a new truck and that Brimfield would also like to join forces with the regional facility. If they join, Brimfield would provide the town with an additional vehicle and they would have both an SUV and pickup truck.
As time goes on, Florence said that they want to turn the Animal Control facility into more of a community resource. She noted that it tends to have a negative connotation and that, in their new building, they plan to have a dog wash station, offer nail clippings and be able to have some pets up for adoption as well.
She said that this would make Animal Control more “community-positive.”
Town Manager Ryan McNutt also gave an update on public safety. According to McNutt, the Palmer Police Department is currently fully staffed. They recently hired Joshua Wood who previously worked for the Springfield Police Department.
On July 21, the Police Department implemented a new policy on their active shooter response and began active shooter training at Palmer High School. McNutt said that the Police Chief met with both school superintendents and is in the process of updating the School Resource Officer Memorandum as required.
He said that the goal of the Police Department remains to help promote school safety, prepare for emergencies and make sure all students and staff are safe.
Those interested in viewing the Palmer Town Council meeting in its entirety are encouraged to visit the M-PACT TV page.