LEPC Minutes

Meeting date: 
Thursday, March 23, 2017
I. Meeting open:
The meeting was opened at 0930 hours by LEPC Secretary Charles Dunlap as a Subcommittee work session for Risk Management Reduction and Outreach and Education.  Chairpersons of each subcommittee with their respective members divided into two separate work groups.

 

A. Outreach and Education Sub-Committee Meeting Minutes    March 23, 2017

 

Members in Attendance:  Chairperson-Stephen Presnal, Jen Willard, Cindy Sullivan, and Dennis Clark
Location: Lower Level of Town Hall 454 College Highway Southwick, MA 01077
Open the meeting at 10:01am

 

Discussion:   Brainstormed ideas regarding the Southwick Public Safety Open House being held on Saturday April 29th.  The LEPC will have an information table at this event.  The items that are needed include:
*Table
*Brochures from various agencies
*Info on how LEPC was mandated
*Booklets with information about different hazardous materials
*Town Emergency Response Plan
*Gadgets from Dig Safe and Columbia to give away

 

Action Items:
Cindy:  collect all items in her office and have table for event
Steve and Dennis: will make calls of their local contacts for items to give away
Jenn: help organize items make sure everything is collected
Dennis: Day of event bring items to event and set up table

 

Future goals:  
LEPC to be more visible on website and possibly have Facebook and Twitter accounts
Regroup and talk about Open House ideas for 2018 perhaps expanding information to hand out, powerpoint running etc.

 

Meeting adjourned at 10:47am

 

Respectfully Submitted by,
Cindy Sullivan

 

B. Risk Management Reduction Subcommittee meeting minutes

 

Here are the minutes of the Risk Management Sub-Committee meeting on March 23, 2017 last week’s LEPC.  
Attendees: Randy Brown, Tom Fitzgerald, Brian Houlihan

 

The group reviewed Attachment J (Risk Reduction Strategies) of the most recent Emergency Planning Committee Application.  The group decided the updated Attachment J should read as follows:
  • The Town of Southwick partners with NEDT of Westfield, MA for a continual household hazardous waste collection program.  The Town pays for the first $20 of HHW per household per year.  
  • The Transfer Station is actively involved in collection of the following materials: mercury devices, Freon appliances,  fluorescent and HID lamps, automotive oil, antifreeze, rechargeable and button batteries, electronics, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, and latex paint (dried).   
  • Town staff participates in an annual Good Housekeeping and Pollution Prevention Training, which includes best management practices for materials management, spill prevention, and waste storage.  
  • Town staff attends periodic safety seminars, such as for pipeline safety, emergency preparedness, and work zone safety.  
  • The Transfer Station has various signage posted around the facility directing residents what materials are and are not permitted in the waste stream.  
  • The Police Department maintains a drop box for the collection of unused and expired medication (tablet form only).  
  • The Fire Department maintains a drop box for the collection of used sharps and needles.
  • The DPW Salt Shed has been relocated to a new location that is away from wetlands that were in the vicinity of the former shed.  
  • The Right-to-Know Officer ensures compliance of the Town’s commercial and industrial facilities with applicable regulations.  (need to verify who the officer is and if this is being done)
  • The Town Building Department is utilizing more earth-friendly cleaning products as well as water-based paints.  
  • The Regional School District has shared a copy of the most recent Chemical Management and Emergency Handbook with appropriate Police and Fire officials.  (need to verify if done)
  • The Regional School District has made the individual Classroom Safety Handbook available to appropriate Police and Fire officials.  (need to verify if done)
The group discussed the upcoming Safety Day at the Police/Fire Complex on April 29th.  LEPC will set up a table.  The group decided that the following information should be provided:
  • The updated Solid Waste Regulation for Haulers, which is being reviewed and adopted by BOH
  • A summary of the household hazardous waste agreement with NEDT in Westfield
  • Sampling of signage posted at the Transfer Station relating to hazardous waste
  • Emergency Response Guidebooks
The Group resumed meeting with the full LEPC at the conclusion of the sub-committee meeting.  Any pamphlets or books that are to be on display at the Police/Fire Safety Day should be brought to Cindy Sullivan.  Dennis Clark offered to set up the table on the day of the event.  

 

Randal Brown, P.E.
Director, Department of Public Works
Town of Southwick
454 College Highway
Southwick, MA  01077
Phone: 413-569-3040 x308

 

II. Work Session: Other Subcommittee Business:
Both subcommittees reported that they would participate in the Public Safety Open House on the 29th of April with an LEPC sponsored display.

 

III. Subcommittee Work Session Report:
Covered under section I.  subsections A. and B.

 

IV. Adjournment:
LEPC Secretary Charles Dunlap entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting with a motion made by Dennis Clark and seconded by Randy Brown with all voting in favor at 1120 hours. The next LEPC meeting will be held on September 28th 2017 at 0930 hours in the Southwick EOC.   

 

Respectfully submitted,
Charles Dunlap, LEPC Sec, EMA Director