SOUTHWICK – The LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee) held a work session at the Southwick Town Hall on Thursday morning.
Run by Emergency Management Director Charlie Dunlap, the focus of the work session was to prepare for the public safety open house that will take place on April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Southwick Police and Fire Departments.
Being the first time that the LEPC will be participating in the open house, the committee wanted to draw up a plan that would fulfill the questions the public could have at the open house.
“We’re working on outreach to the public,” said Dunlap.
The work session consisted of two separate sub-committees, one being Risk Management, and the other was Educational Outreach.
The Risk Management sub-committee of the LPEC discussed ideas for the upcoming public safety open house. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
For the Educational Outreach sub-committee, the school district was represented with Superintendent Jen Willard and the District Business Manager Stephen Presnal. Council on Aging Director Cindy Sullivan and Conservation Coordinator Dennis Clark were also a part of the sub-committee.
Educational Outreach decided that they will have a table set up at the open house with brochures that will explain what the LEPC is and some possible history of the committee.
With the possibility that the public may want to hear more about the LEPC , the Education Outreach sub-committee saw the importance of the work session.
“This will give the LEPC an opportunity to give residents the information they need,” said Sullivan.
For Risk Management, along with Dunlap, Board of Health Director Tom FitzGerald, DPW Director Randy Brown, and American Inn Plant Director Brian Houlihan were all part of the sub-committee.
The discussion revolved around hazardous materials and how they can give the public more awareness on a topic that is an important aspect of the LEPC . Flyers and books about hazardous materials will also be on display.
After the two sub-committees ended their work session, the LEPC reconvened to talk about their ideas, followed by the meeting being adjourned.
Dunlap noted that the LEPC has had an open house in the past at the schools in the district.
