Emergency Management Response Team Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, April 28, 2020

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPONSE TEAM (EMRT)

MEETING MINUTES 4/28/2020

 

Attendees:  Chief Rick McQuade, Chief David Hall, DEMD Karen Day, Chief Brian Giammarino & (Henry), EMD Martin, Health Officer Borden, DEMD Diane Boilard, GFA Coordinator Chris Borden, Todd Mason Roads Manager

Meeting opened at 12:20

Last Meeting Minutes were accepted and approved.

  1. EMD Martin clarified the latest emergency extension noting that it was to extend the Governor’s emergency powers. 
  2. Last Select Board notes from EMD Martin:  He explained that he is now the liaison between the Select Board and the EMRT.  Karen Day will remain a DEMD.  Karen Nadeau will continue to be a volunteer coordinator, just not a town government coordinator.
  3. A worry about residents leaving recycling material at the Recycling Center was discussed.  EMD Martin to explain our concerns to the Select Board.
  4. A discussion about the voting scheduled for September and November and possible worries of town residents about COVID-19.  Several people talked about the changes to the access to absentee ballots allow now allowing residents to request them on fears of catching COVID-19 if faced going in person to vote.  A worry surfaced that the possible large number of requests may not be fully anticipated was discussed.  EMD Martin to speak with the Select Board to explain the need to begin early in the process to ensure everyone’s right to vote was maintained.
  5. Restarting normal town government activity was a topic of discussion.  Chief McQuade in his role as Building and Grounds Manager, explained the cleaning procedure he would be doing to ensure no contamination of the various locations.
  6. Since the Greenfield State Park is to reopen, we had a discussion on its condition and any possibility of contamination at beaches.  We learned that the State Freeze on hiring and money in general would not allow for the possible needed repairs and maintenance.  Information about contamination in the lake water, at this time, seemed to indicate it was safe to swim as long as social distancing was maintained.  There was worry on the amount of people who would be coming to camp and use the beach during the summer.  They would be coming into town to use the Harvester Market and other features of the town with possibly little regard to social distancing.  EMD Martin will talk to Jess and invite her and her boss to our next meeting to discuss precautions for the influx of outsiders to the town.  He would also discuss this with the Select Board
  7. EMD Martin informed us that Sommerville Mass. had created an Ordinance to enforce use of face covering use at public buildings which included fines.  He will discuss this with the Select Board and Thursday’s meeting.
  8. EMD Martin has the opportunity to request surgical face masks from a state agency.  We all agreed that he should request 1,000 masks for when/if future needs arose.
  9. D EMD Boilard asked that we inform the residents in our next mailer of the # of deaths listed by World, US, State, County and Greenfield in our next mailer.  She felt that these facts would make the clear and present danger with hopes people would understand why “Stay at home” was so important and why all the other suggested precautions were needed. Motion carried.
  10. A discussion on the Remake of proposed Mailer lead to agreement that Chief Hall and Karen Day had done an excellent job and that it should be shown to the Select Board so that it could be sent out.
  11. A reiteration that the team needs to keep track of their time, efforts and costs was necessary for future FEMA reimbursement was made to the Team.
  12. A thank you to the ‘Hungry Goats Eatery” and Ray Cilley for providing today’s lunch.

Meeting ended at 2:20

Respectfully submitted by DEMD Diane Boilard