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Friday, April 09, 2010
Quick Article Index . . .
Jobless aid
available for Westport storm victims.
In the
spotlight, Proposition 2 ½ becomes the issue in April 13th election.
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Jobless aid available for Westport
storm victims. EverythingWestport.com Wednesday, April 07, 2010
The rain may have stopped but the storm of
controversy is far from over; North and South Watuppa Ponds are still at
flood levels. “Eight homes have been condemned and seven
others have been deemed uninhabitable,” Legendre said. “Fire, police and
highway department personnel have been working around the clock. The fire
department has pumped out 108 basements, and are now averaging five a day” Legendre stressed the importance of calling
FEMA offices and registering. “Your application number becomes your portal to
FEMA disaster aid. Even if you think you don’t need assistance, or have flood
insurance, register anyway. Get the process started,” emphasized Legendre. “Mold and public health issues need to be
addressed quickly,” Legendre said. “A lot of basements were flooded, and some
oil tanks were floated off their foundations. Luckily we didn’t see any fuel
oil spillage problems like those we recently experienced at the abandoned
house on town-owned land.” The selectmen recognized the tremendous
effort of Westport’s safety and highway department efforts in assisting flood
victims and keeping residents safe. “They did an outstanding job,” board
chairman Steven Ouellette said. “Those residents still needing sandbags can
get them at the Briggs Road station,” Legendre added. “We also have two pallets of water for emergency use by
flood victims. Potable water may still be in issue with some of the flooded
properties.”
“Calling and
registering with FEMA is the most important thing you can do,” Legendre said.
“Call 1 (800) 621-FEMA.” Westport’s fire chief also pointed out that
emergency assistance from MEMA, Massachusetts’ equivalent department to FEMA,
can provide disaster relief such as food, water, and a list of resources,
like the American Red Cross, that can help flood victims. “Just dial 211 to contact them,” Legendre
said. The Disaster Recovery Division of MEMA deals directly with local
disaster victims. It guides cities and towns, as well as individuals, through
the loss reimbursement process. This includes the distribution of federal and
state disaster monies for individuals, cities and towns, state agencies and
eligible non-profit organizations to assist in their recovery efforts to
restore the areas to pre-disaster condition Adirondack Lane is still not passable. “I can’t get an oil delivery to my house,”
said one Adirondack Lane resident. South Watuppa shoreline properties are
still under water. “Right now we’re only
dropping (South Watuppa Pond) an inch a day,” Fall River Administrator of
Public Utilities Terry Sullivan said recently. “We’re doing all we can.” Click here to learn more. Some residents balked at what they
perceived would be lengthy and cumbersome application processes with the
Conservation Commission in instituting repairs to their property. “We will
streamline the process within the law,” Ouellette told the residents.
Conservation Commission chairman Mike Sullivan said he would work with storm
victims on a one by one basis. “DEP and local boards will be less taxing on
stricken residents,” he said. “We will attempt to work with home owners.” Also in attendance was Board of Health
chairman John Colletti who told those in attendance that the landfill would
turn away demolition debris from flooded homes because of asbestos and other
toxic concerns. “You will have to call a licensed handler to haul away
debris,” Colletti said. State Representative Michael Rodrigues was
in attendance and discussed with the Selectmen the tour he took around town
that day with local officials, State Senator Joan Menard and U.S. Representative
Barney Frank. “FEMA will be in town for damage assessment,” Rodrigues said.
“A permanent center will be set up in Bristol County with mobile satellite
districts throughout the county to assist flood victims in filling out
applications for disaster relief.” “Register with FEMA as quickly as you
can,” Rodrigues said. “I must stress, however, for flood victims
to call FEMA now and get the application process going. Don’t wait for them
to contact you. It’s also important to realize that damage assessment can’t
be done while the property is still under water,” Rodriques said. “Property
owners and renters Rodrigues informed the board that both U.S.
Senators from Massachusetts Scott Brown and John Kerry had called to ask what
they could do to assist in the recovery effort. “There is still a state of
emergency in Westport,” Rodrigues said. Forge Pond dam safe. “DCR state inspectors came out and gave the
Forge Pond dam a clean bill of health,” said Fire Chief Legendre. “People in Bristol County can apply
for aid” Governor Deval Patrick. Jobless aid is available to storm victims.
According to the Boston Globe, “Governor Deval Patrick said April 2 that
people in Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and
Worcester counties who were permanently or temporarily thrown out of work by
that storm can apply for the aid. Those eligible for the assistance include
residents who could not work or lost pay because their place of employment
was damaged or destroyed; they could not get to their jobs because of travel
restrictions caused by the storm; or they were injured due to the storm. Officials
have not yet said what help may be provided for the recent storm this week. The deadline to apply is May 3. Related stories. Tiverton landfill won't accept flood-related waste. The
Federal Emergency Management Agency
opened five disaster recovery centers in Massachusetts Wednesday. There is no center in Bristol County,
however. For residents in Westport, the closest center is at Lakeville Free Public Library, 4
Precinct St., Lakeville. The center will be open seven days a week from 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. FEMA spokeswoman Clare Eckert said residents are able to
access any center regardless of where they live. Read more. “Right now we’re only dropping (South Watuppa Pond) an
inch a day.” Said Fall River
Administrator of Public Utilities Terry Sullivan. “We’re doing all we
can.” Click here to learn more. In the spotlight, Proposition 2 ½
becomes the issue in April 13th election. EverythingWestport.com Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Area residents and seniors had another
opportunity to learn more about the candidates, but many came to voice their
concerns about the proposed Proposition 2 ½ override. In an annual election with 13 unopposed
candidates, there were few voter incentives to get out to the ballot box. But
the Proposition 2 ½ override could be a ballot box buster. Selectmen candidates Elizabeth Collins, a
retired registered nurse and former town selectwoman, and Richard Spirlet, a
retired New Bedford police captain, have staked out their positions on
several key issues that leave little doubt where they stand. “I am against the meals and hotel tax, and
I am absolutely opposed to unfunded or underfunded mandates from our state
government and federal,” Spirlet said. “These mandates create undue strain on
our town budget, particularly our schools and the special education costs. We
need to take a proactive stance, and travel to Boston and fight these unfair
mandates. We need to reach out to state officials and apply pressure.” Collins, seeking to return to the board,
strongly supports the override. “It would be just a shame,” she said, “a real
wrong to go backwards.” Speaking to the seniors in attendance she said “Budget
cuts will force a cut in senior transportation. We should provide for our
seniors as they have provided for us.” Collins is a public service advocate, and currently
serves on many town boards. She is an uncontested candidate for the Housing
Authority on this year’s ballot. She has been the Westport Lions Club
president for the last three years.
“The reality is that our tax rate is
comparatively low,” she said. “We’re talking about saving our community as we
know it.” Spirlet is against amending the town
charter to appoint town department heads that are currently elected. “We need
to hold our public officials accountable at the ballot box he said.” Both candidates believe that tougher
negotiations with the town’s unions will be required to balance the town
budget. “It’s a give and take situation,” Collins said. “In the past there
has been too much giving and not enough taking.” Employee expenses currently make up about
80% of the town budget. Collins supports a movement seeking a “Wild
and Scenic River designation” from the federal government as an excellent approach
to protecting our valuable water resource. Spirlet is opposed, saying that there
are 16 local and state agencies with controls over the Westport River, and he
is against granting control of “our river to the federal government.” But the override, which represents a 7.7%
increase in the tax rate and adds to an automatic 2 ½% increase, brought the tough
questions from the audience. One town resident said “the town is not living
in the real world anymore. Public sector salaries and benefits are way above
the private sector.” Officials recognized that in years past it was the
opposite, and that trend has now reversed. In a somewhat contentious discussion, and
one that certainly puts both sides in separate camps, selectman Craig Dutra
and school superintendent Dr. Colley presented an argument for the override,
and selectman Gary Mauk opposed, saying “the override wouldn’t solve the long-term issue of
expenditures outpacing revenues.” “Current unfunded pension liabilities are
unsustainable, and will bankrupt the town,” Mauk said. Passions are running high over Question 1
on this year’s ballot, with each side claiming inaccuracies and mistruths in
the statements supporting the opposition’s position. If the override passes, town boards and
school budgets based on the increase will go before town meeting for approval.
If not, Westport boards and the school
system will have to make some tough choices. “I believe in ballot measures,” Spirlet
said. “The citizens of Westport should always have the right to vote their
mind. The override is an individual and personal choice. If it is passes and
I am elected, I will do my best to work with the individual boards and make recommendations
that support the peoples’ will. If it
fails I will do the same.” Collins agreed on this one point. Both
candidates feel that the town is at a critical financial crossroads. “I have dealt
with fiscal issues like this before,” Collins said. “I can do it again if the
ballot question fails.”
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