Lanesborough Undecided On Appointing Emergency Management Director
 |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Fire Chief Charlie Durfee says he's been performing the role of emergency management director, but without the title.
Now that Director Charles Garrity has resigned from the position, Durfee, who had been the alternative, moves into the job title on an interim basis. But the Board of Selectmen doesn't want to appoint him to the role.
"As I see it, this would be a good spot for somebody who is not involved in directing the other departments," Selectman Robert Ericson said.
The Selectmen are looking to fill the role and so far only Durfee and former Lanesborough firefighter Timothy Sayers — son of Board of Selectman Henry "Hank" Sayers — have applied or it. Durfee told the Selectmen that in 99 percent of the cities and towns in Massachusetts, the emergency management director is either the municipality's fire or police chief.
"We are the ones who are heavily involved when something is going on," Durfee said. "When [Police Chief Timothy Sorrell] or I are calling the shots, putting another voice in the there will confuse it."
Ericson, however, maintains that he'd rather have some one outside of either of those roles. He said if there is a large-scale emergency, he'd like to have the fire chief and police chief managing their respective departments. The emergency management director can oversee the entire operation and call for additional resources as needed.
Durfee responded that "that's what I do." With 36 years on the department, the chief says he is the one who is calling for resources when there is an emergency.
That was particularly true during Tropical Storm Irene when Garrity was out of town and Durfee, who also works for the town's Highway Department, prepared for it, met with other local officials, directed local resources, and then filed the reimbursement paperwork with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Durfee says he is currently working on an emergency management grant that is due Friday.
"I know the job. I've been doing the job for the last eight years. If you don't want me to do it, that's your opinion," Durfee said.
Timothy Sayers had been on the volunteer department for years before taking a full-time job in Pittsfield. Hank Sayers said Timothy, who is also an emergency medical technician, can help cover shifts for the struggling ambulance service during the day if appointed. The ambulance service has been struggling to respond to calls during the day, and Sayers said his son would be willing to rejoin the department, take on the emergency management director job, and then cover the ambulance during the day.
"I consider both choices to be problematic," Ericson said.
Durfee said the job isn't about the ambulance, it is about emergency preparedness
"It is about preparing this town for emergency operation if something happens," he said
The Selectmen decided instead to ask if Police Officer Dale Newberry wants the job. Sorrell said Newberry seemed interested but did not know if he still is. Chairman John Goerlach said he thinks Newberry would be a good person to appoint.
"I don't see any great rush to make this choice. I'd like to see if Dale would be interested in submitting an application," Ericson said.
In other business, Ericson thanked a passerby for helping a woman escape from a burning vehicle. Ericson said he encountered a woman on Sunday who had driven into a guardrail and her vehicle burst into flames. A man was following the vehicle when it happened and helped protect her from the flames.
"It was a courageous act on his part. I don't know if I would do the same thing," Ericson said. "This young man, probably in his 20s, did basically a heroic activity and needs to be commended for it."
Durfee said the vehicle went up in flames quickly. Sorrell said he couldn't give Ericson the passerby's name because there is a criminal investigation in the matter, and he would be considered a witness.
