Westport Island officials Monday night said they would like to hear from any townspeople who would like to help with a possible expanded task for the broadband committee: Exploring how to use technology to spread word to residents in an emergency.
SUSAN JOHNS Tue, 12/29/2020 - 8:00am Westport Island First Selectman George Richardson said Monday night, Road Commissioner and G & D Cromwell co-owner Garry Cromwell and Fire Chief Stacey Hutchison talked, as Richardson asked them to. “And Stacey got back to me and said they had had a positive discussion and resolved the issues caused by the big (Dec. 17) storm and equipment malfunctions. “If any issues come up that cannot be resolved, then Stacey will contact the selectmen,” Richardson told fellow board members and other attendees of the UberConference meeting. “Excellent,” Second Selectman Gerald Bodmer said. Dec. 21, officials discussed G & D’s plowing in that storm including at the fire station.
Tue, 12/22/2020 - 8:45am Which is the higher priority, a plowed fire station or plowed roads? Westport Island officials pondered that question in selectmen’s UberConference call Monday night. The question stemmed from the Dec. 17 snowstorm, when, according to officials, snow was falling at two to three inches an hour and the town’s plowing contractor, G & D Cromwell, had some equipment problems. Second Selectman Gerald Bodmer said the fire department tends to all emergencies and should be the first priority to keep clear of snow. “It is critical to have that open.” “Yeah, you really can’t do that,” Third Selectman Ross Norton said. He said the fire trucks can get out of the station in over a foot of snow, but the department and the island need the roads cleared.