Residents Encouraged to Weigh In On Emergency Shelter

Tuesday night, the public will have the chance to weigh in on the operation of the town’s emergency shelter after the October 2011 snowstorm.

Chief Administrative Officer Robert Skinner praised the staff and volunteers who ran the facility, which stayed open for eight days and, according to town documents, served more than 1,000 people.

“During the storm, I think the shelter ran really well so it will be hard to improve on perfection but we can always look to do things better,” Skinner said.

The shelter was part of a discussion on emergency services at the recent annual town meeting, which was held Jan. 18. 

On Tuesday, however, residents are encouraged to come out and give input specifically on the shelter.

The meeting will be hosted by the After Action Emergency Review Committee, which is assessing the town's response during and after the storm.

Adam Libros, the town’s fire marshal and director of emergency management, is co-chairing the committee with Bruce Lockwood, a former selectman who also worked as the town’s fire marshal, has other emergency experience and was highly involved in the shelter.

Libros said people who want to speak on the shelter should come to the meeting right at 7 p.m. Tuesday, when the committee will hold a public comment period.

The committee has met once already and will eventually release a report on the storm response.

The shelter meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Jan 24 in Room F of the

Residents can also take a survey on the town's winter storm response.