Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson. (WNG File Photo)
SOUTHWICK – At Monday night’s Select Board meeting, the board approved a house numbering program brought forth by two town officials.
Fire Chief Russ Anderson and Council on Aging Director Cindy Sullivan proposed the house numbering program. Initially targeted for senior citizens living in town, Anderson and Sullivan told the board that the plan is to have green signs on mailboxes with a white reflective number. The town officials are hoping the action will increase safety for seniors.
“It’s really about public safety,” said Sullivan. “When it’s a medical emergency, they’re (firefighters) having trouble finding some of the houses.”
Cindy Sullivan, the Southwick Council on Aging Director. (WNG File Photo)
Both Sullivan and Anderson said that they will be using grants from their respective departments in order to support this program. The goal is to start off with around 100 seniors being a part of the house numbering program. According to Anderson, individuals will be going to the senior’s home, and physically installing the green sign to the mailbox. It hasn’t been determined yet as to who will be installing the signs.
Down the road, Anderson would like to see the program go beyond just senior citizens.
“We’re hoping the program expands to the whole town eventually,” said Anderson.
Sullivan will be coordinating with seniors in town and doing research to see who would be interested in signing up for the program. Joining the program will be free of charge for any senior citizen in town who is interested.
