The DPW crew that ressponded to Yarmouth emergency included (L-R) Gary Fontaine, Stephen Wingate, Austin Garrett, Matt Gromaski, Soctt Hathaway and Josh Winn. (Photo submitted)
WESTFIELD – Mayor Brian P. Sullivan shared a letter he received from the Town of Yarmouth, thanking the city for the invaluable assistance provided during the cleanup from the July 29 tornadoes that hit several Cape Cod communities.
“Yarmouth was left with an abundance of debris that needed to be cleared as soon as possible to make roads passable and leave town residents safe,” wrote Michael Stone, chairman of the Yarmouth Board of Selectmen.
“Due to crucial contributions from several outside agencies and communities, the Town of Yarmouth has been able to be swiftly restored to its pre-tornado conditions,” Stone added.
The Westfield Department of Public Works sent a crew of six, along with its new bucket truck and stump grinder to clear trees. DPW Director David Billips said the crew left at 4 a.m. and worked all day and the next day, before returning home late the second night.
“Our guys stayed busy for two days, and got a lot done,” Sullivan said.
Tree warden Scott Hathaway of the Parks and Recreation Department led the crew, comprised of Gary Fontaine, Stephen Wingate, Austin Garrett, Matt Gromaski and Josh Wynn.
Sullivan said Billips asked a couple of years ago to get a tree removal crew, then got the bucket, wood chipper and grinder, which he said have been put to good use in Westfield, most recently removing some dangerous trees on Northwest Road and at Southampton Road and Franklin Avenue schools.
“In my world, it’s money well spent; the work we’re getting done, the financial savings in-house, and the quick response time to any dangerous situations,” Sullivan said about the tree equipment, which Billips said cost around $250,000, and is being paid off over five years through a bond.
Billips said that there are not a lot of large trees on the Cape, and the towns don’t have their own equipment, especially a 150-foot bucket truck. He also said three of the crew members were salaried employees, who did not receive any overtime. Westfield was expected to receive some disaster assistance funds to cover its costs.
Yarmouth town administrator and former Westfield Mayor Daniel Knapik said the town was “mesmerized” by the crew and equipment Westfield sent, according to Sullivan.
“We would like to express our sincerest thanks to all of the employees of Westfield involved in storm debris cleanup efforts in Yarmouth. Without their indispensable assistance, our community would not have been able to recover as quickly as it did,” Stone continued in his letter, adding, “Coretta Scott King once said, ‘The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassion actions of its members.’ The Town of Yarmouth will not soon forget the compassionate assistance provided to us in our time of need by the wonderful community of Westfield.”
