Pittsfield ready to adopt emergency plan

PITTSFIELD – A recent assessment of hazardous risks that could affect Pittsfield revealed there are seven possible scenarios that would require activating the town’s emergency operations plan.

They include a severe winter storm, a hazardous-material spill, a prolonged power outage, localized flooding, a mass-casualty incident or a hostile incident at a school.

The plan was created by the Somerset County Emergency Management Agency and will be adopted Tuesday by the Pittsfield Town Council.

The 54-page plan is a template for action that upon declaration of an emergency, either by the SCEMA or by Fire Chief Bernard Williams, who is also the Pittsfield EMA director, could be immediately activated. Should such an event occur, the plan states the town will create an emergency operations center and coordinate with state and county agencies, Red Cross and school administrators as needed.

On a local level, the plan calls for coordinating with public works, the Town Council, water and sewer department, and the town’s health officer. The plan also provides checklists to be used in case of emergency, contact numbers and a place to begin compiling a list of volunteers.

In other business, the council will hold two public hearings Feb. 5 to deal with releasing two tax-acquired properties.

The council also will approve a request for proposals for a new truck for the Pittsfield Water Works, and accept a proposal by Acheron Engineering of Newport to conduct a sludge study at the town’s wastewater treatment facility.

The meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, in the council chambers of the municipal building.

bdnpittsfield@verizon.net

487-3187