By Pattie Pacella, Neighb News Correspondent
At its meeting on 8/14, the Acushnet Selectboard discussed the plans for using grant money received the town received under the Green Communities program,12 and heard from Fire Chief Kevin Gallagher about his efforts to fight opioid addiction.
The board heard from Building Commissioner Jim Marot regarding the Green Communities Contract. He said the Town has received another grant in the amount of $132,278 for continued Green Projects.
Mr. Marot stated that to date they have received close to $800,000 and have done a tremendous amount of updating at the schools, library, and every Town building with complete LED light upgrades. With this additional money the second phase of all street lighting will be updated to LED lights and the police station will be updated, too.
Mr. Marot also stated that Acushnet has been recognized as one of the first communities in Bristol County as a Green Community.
Selectboard member Roger Cabral congratulated Mr. Marot for his hard work and efforts in this endeavor.
The Selectboard also heard from Fire Chief Kevin Gallagher regarding their efforts and initiatives to create a “Purple Army” to fight the opioid crisis.
He said in 2015, they began a public awareness effort with purple flags lined up on the Fire Station lawn to recognize those who had been affected by the opioid addiction. In September of 2015, they began the “Acushnet Cares Campaign,” a program to follow up with a paramedic, clergy and counselor to support the family of the member in crisis. He said it was well received by the families they assisted.
In January 2018, they began carrying IV Tylenol on ambulances and, now, starting this summer, they strated two more initiatives to help with the opioid crisis.
With the help of Town Meeting and the support of the Selectboard, the Fire Department has been able to buy a $45,000 Sterilis sharps destruction machine, which is used to get rid of needles. Since July of this year, they have have destroyed more than 90 pounds of sharps.
Chief Gallagher said it has been very well received, and at this time they are not mandating that people be from Acushnet.
“If you have needles that need to be disposed of you can certainly bring them to Acushnet Fire Department,” Chief Gallagher said.
The most recent initiative is that of “purple pouches” which are available to residents through various community avenues (COA, Fire/Police Department, South Coast Hospital Group). The pouches disingrate unwanted, unused pills and/or six ounces of liquid medicine.
The consumer simply puts the pills or liquid in the pouch, and the charcoal in the pouch will make the drugs inactive. The consumer will then be able to throw the deactivated drugs in the garbage or recyclable, as the pouch is a soy based recyclable bag that can be thrown out after use.
Chief Gallagher said his “Purple Army” is based on the idea that if every person who has been personally affected by the opioid crisis were painted purple, we would all, through a friend or relative, most likely become purple people .
Chief Gallagher stated that this time last year there were 20 purple flags lining the Fire Department’s lawn, and this year, there are 10.
“It may be a sign of turning the corner,” he said.
In other business, the Select Board heard from Kathy Silva of the Water/ Sewer Department for reviewing the new rates effective September 21, 2018. Ms. Silva stated that New Bedford has increased their cost to 10.2% to Acushnet and her proposal is not to increase the water rate at this time. She explained that, with the Board’s support, the water/sewer rates went to a three tier rate last year and at the lowest rate it would remain at $5.66 per cubic feet for water. For the sewer rate she proposed a .50 cent increase in each tier; so the current lowest rate that is $8.50 would be $9.00; $9.50 to $10.00; and $10.50 to $11.
Ms. Silva stated that the last time Acushnet had to raise their water rates was in 2015.
Selectboard chairperson Mike Cioper said that the Town was really at the mercy of their neighbor next door, meaning New Bedford, which supplies the Town witih water and sewer.
In other business, the Selectboard approved the Firefighters Memorandum of Agreement to
approve a one year extension to the Firefighters current contract with a 2% cost of living increase, and a small cosmetic change to read “firefighter, paramedic, and EMT.”
Selectboard member Kevin Gaspar was not in attendance.
•••
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News at: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Y6V5ARRYH689G
Click here to download the entire 8/16/18 issue: 08-16-18 USCG Eagle
