Author: jgprmadelyn

NORTON — Town Manager Michael Yunits, Police Chief Brian Clark, and Fire Chief Shawn Simmons wish to share the following information regarding ballot questions on police and fire Civil Service.

The 2024 Town Election will be held on Saturday, April 27. As part of the election, Norton residents are being asked to vote on two ballot questions regarding the Police and Fire Department’s proposed exit from Civil Service.

On Oct. 23, 2023, Town Meeting voters approved an article to allow the Fire Department to exit from Civil Service. The April 27 ballot vote will serve as the final step of this process.

Employee recruitment and retention are among the biggest challenges in today’s public safety field. Should the departments leave the Civil Service process, hiring will be based on educational attainment, certifications, academy completion, and work history, rather than Civil Service exam results.

“We have a public safety hiring crisis with low supply and high demand that requires better flexibility and a larger pool of candidates that Civil Service does not provide,” said Chief Clark.

This process will allow both departments the ability to hire without the Civil Service restrictions including mileage proximity, age, and transfer status.

The proposed exit from Civil Service, as well as the replacement policies and procedures, have been agreed to by the unions as part of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, which is slated to go into effect on July 1.

The town has worked collaboratively with the unions and department heads through impact bargaining and the development of new policies and procedures. These policies and procedures will supplement and address items that are currently covered under Civil Service including new hires, discipline, seniority, layoff, recall, and the promotional process.

“I am excited for us to be able to draw new hire candidates from a larger pool while having the ability to hire the most qualified applicant,” said Chief Simmons. “The new promotional process will also benefit our department as it was developed in collaboration with the union and will allow us to tailor exams so they are relevant to our department’s operation and mission.”

Area towns that have recently exited Civil Service include Mansfield, Foxboro, North Attleborough, Plainville, Easton, Walpole, Norwood, Franklin, Sharon and Avon.

Below are some important questions for residents to consider:

What does a “YES” vote mean?

A “YES” vote will indicate that residents support the decision of the departments to exit from Civil Service. Exiting from Civil Service will allow the police and fire departments more flexibility with regard to recruitment and retention by advertising open positions and selecting candidates from a larger candidate pool. This process will allow both departments the ability to hire without the Civil Service restrictions including mileage proximity restrictions, age restrictions, and transfer restrictions.

What does a “NO” vote mean?

A “NO” vote indicates that residents do not support the decision of the departments and Town Meeting and wish to retain Civil Service.

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NORTON — Chief Shawn Simmons and the Norton Fire Department would like to remind Norton residents that open burning season begins Jan. 15 and runs through May 1. A permit is required to open burn in compliance with Massachusetts law.

Permits:

Residents can begin applying for a burn permit today by creating an account via the department’s new burn permit portal: norton.firepermits.com. Once you are registered, you can apply for your burn permit online by clicking “Get a Permit”. Residents will receive an email notifying them the permit is approved.

Once registered, residents can sign up to burn between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

If conditions are unsafe for burning, such as high winds or drought, a notification will be posted on the homepage.

Individuals who don’t have access to a computer should call the Norton Fire Department at 508-285-0248 for assistance with their burn permit application.

Open Burning: 

Burning must be done: 

• Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., from Jan. 15 to May 1
• At least 75 feet from all buildings
• As close as possible to the source of material being burned

Residents are allowed to burn:

• Brush, cane, driftwood and forestry debris (but not from commercial or industrial land clearing)
• Agricultural materials including fruit tree and bush prunings, raspberry stalks, and infected bee hives for disease control
• Trees and brush from agricultural land clearing
• Fungus-infected elm wood, if no other acceptable means of disposal is available

Residents may not burn:

• Leaves
• Brush, trees, cane or driftwood from commercial or industrial land clearing
• Grass, hay, leaves, stumps or tires
• Construction materials or demolition debris
• Household trash

What times are best for open burning?

• You can help prevent wildland fires by burning early in the season. Wet and snowy winter conditions help hinder the rapid spread of fire on or under the ground.
• Changing weather conditions and increased fire danger in spring can lead to many days when open burning is not allowed.
• April is usually the worst month for brush fires. When snow recedes, but before new growth emerges, last year’s dead grass, leaves and wood are dangerous tinder. Winds also tend to be strong and unpredictable in April.

For more information on open burning in Massachusetts, visit Mass.gov.

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NORTON — Chief Shawn Simmons and the Norton Fire Department ask residents to remain alert and take necessary precautions as Hurricane Lee is expected to track toward New England in the coming days.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Lee is moving toward the north-northwest and a turn toward the north is expected by tonight.

Public safety officials are receiving briefings as the situation is updated, and are staying current on storm tracks and forecasts to ensure staffing is in place to deal with any emergency.

Hurricanes can bring many different types of wind and water hazards, including storm surges, strong winds and flooding. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offer several tips to help residents better prepare for extreme weather:

Know Your Evacuation Zone

Learn if you live or work in a hurricane evacuation zone. If you live in an area that may flood and you may need assistance evacuating, plan with family, neighbors, and friends to determine who may be able to assist. Contact your local public safety officials to make them aware of your needs.

Make an Emergency Plan

Have an emergency plan for how your family would communicate, evacuate, and shelter in place that addresses the needs of all family members, including seniors, children, individuals with access and functional needs, and pets. If you receive medical treatment or home health care services, work with your medical provider to determine how to maintain care and service if you are unable to leave your home or have to evacuate.

Steps to making an emergency plan include:

• Discuss the questions below with your family, friends or household to start your emergency plan.
  • How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
  • What is my shelter plan?
  • What is my evacuation route?
  • What is my family/household communication plan?
• Consider specific needs in your household.
• Fill out a Family Emergency Plan. A sample plan can be found here.
• Practice your plan with your family/household.

Build an Emergency Kit

Build an emergency kit that will sustain your household for three to five days without power.

A basic emergency supply kit may include the following recommended items:

• Food and water
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit, including prescription medicine
• Disinfectants, moist towelettes, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies
• Whistle (to signal for help)
• Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place)
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
• Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
• Manual or battery-powered can opener (for food)
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

Preparing at home

• Check flashlights and portable radios to confirm they’re working. Fully charge your cell phone, laptop and any other devices before the storm.
• Check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• If you own a car, make sure the gas tank is at least half full should you need to travel.
• Have an emergency food supply in case of a power outage. People should have supplies to sustain their families for at least 72 hours.
• Set your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings (remember to reset them back to normal once power is restored). During an outage, minimize the number of times you open the refrigerator or freezer door.
• Prepare your home by securing or bringing in outdoor objects (patio furniture, children’s toys, trash cans, etc.) that could be swept away or damaged during strong winds or flooding. Also, elevate items in your basement in case of flooding, check your sump pump, unplug sensitive electronic equipment, and park vehicles in areas that are unlikely to flood.
• Bring in boats from moorings or add extra lines to secure them. The Harbormaster will not be responding to boats off of mooring until the storm weakens and it is safe for the crews to respond.
• The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency recommends purchasing a generator to maintain electricity in an outage. NEVER run a generator indoors, in a garage, or with the exhaust facing the home or home air intakes.
• Pack a bag with important items in case you need to evacuate. Don’t forget to include needed medications and any valuable personal belongings.

Should a Weather Event Occur

• Don’t go out during a hurricane or tropical storm, if possible.
• Call 9-1-1 to report emergencies, including downed power lines and gas leaks.
• Stay away from downed utility wires. Always assume a downed power line is live.
• Report power outages to your utility company. Do not call 9-1-1 to report an outage or to ask about power restoration. 
• Be a good neighbor. Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with medical conditions and those who may need additional assistance.

Stay Informed

Every family should have multiple methods for receiving emergency alerts. Learn more about different types of alerting and information tools including the Emergency Alert System, Wireless Emergency Alerts, NOAA Weather Radio, social and traditional news media, and your local notification systems.

For more information on hurricane planning, click here.

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NORTON — Fire Chief Shawn Simmons and the Norton Fire Department would like to remind residents to act safely and responsibly when visiting lakes, ponds and other bodies of water this summer.

According to the American Red Cross, 10 people die each day from unintentional drowning, and on average two of those deaths are children under age 14. Additionally, drowning is the leading cause of death for children and adults with autism spectrum disorder.

To ensure everyone’s safety in the water this summer, the Norton Fire Department would like to offer the following safety tips to kayakers, paddlers, and recreational boaters courtesy of the American Canoe Association:

• Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating or fishing, even if you don’t intend to enter the water.
• Children under the age of 12 must always wear a life jacket in a public body of water.
• Be a competent swimmer with the ability to handle oneself underwater, moving water, surf or current. Keep the craft under control. Do not enter a rapid unless you are reasonably sure you can navigate it or swim the entire rapid in case you capsize.
• Keep a lookout for hazards and avoid them. Watch for fog, especially on coastal waters.
• Know your physical limitations.
• Group members need to constantly assess the behavior of others in their group.

For those swimming in the ocean, lakes, ponds or pools, the Norton Fire Department  also offers the following safety tips outlined by the American Red Cross:

• Never leave children unattended while they are near or in a body of water, and make sure they have an adult to accompany them into the water. Young or inexperienced swimmers should always wear a life jacket or inflatable arm floats.
• Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present. Even if lifeguards are present, you (or another responsible adult) should stay with your children.
• If a child is missing, always check the body of water that they were near or swimming in first.
• Understand and adjust for the unique risks of the water environment you are in, such as river currents, ocean rip current, underwater hazards including vegetation and animals, and more.
• Don’t use alcohol or drugs (including certain prescription medications) before or during swimming or diving, or while supervising swimmers.
• Recognize the signs of someone in trouble and shout for help. A swimmer needs immediate help if they:
  • Are not making forward progress in the water.
  • Are vertical in the water but unable to move or tread water.
  • Are motionless and face down in the water.
• If someone is drowning or experiencing an emergency in the water:
  • Rescue and remove the person from the water (without putting yourself in danger).
  • Ask someone to call 911
  • Begin CPR and use an AED if available.
• Take a CPR course for adults and children to be prepared if an emergency occurs. Update skills regularly.

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NORTON — Chief Shawn Simmons and the Norton Fire Department would like to remind Norton residents that open burning season begins Jan. 15 and runs through May 1. A permit is required to open burn in compliance with Massachusetts law.

Any Norton resident wishing to participate in open burning this season must obtain a permit. Permits are now available online for the 2023 burning season. Residents can click here to apply for or renew a burn permit.

All permits will be approved after the application is completed. To request a burn on an existing permit, fill in at least three of the fields on the webpage, then click SEARCH button or press Enter key.

Permits may be requested from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Burning is permitted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents may not request permits before the day they plan to burn.

Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact the Norton Fire Department at (508) 285-0240 or visit in person at 70 East Main St.

Burning permits from previous seasons do not carry over from year to year. Once residents receive their permit they will log into the site to request burning and will be advised on the site if conditions allow for burning that day or not.

Violations of the permit requirements, open burning law and/or open burning regulations will be grounds for permit revocation. According to Massachusetts law, anyone found burning without a permit may be subject to criminal charges, the punishment for which is a fine of up to $500, plus the cost of suppression or by imprisonment for up to one month, or both.

Open Burning:

Burning must be done: 

• Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., from Jan. 15 to May 1
• At least 75 feet from all buildings
• As close as possible to the source of material being burned

Residents are allowed to burn:

• Brush, cane, driftwood and forestry debris (but not from commercial or industrial land clearing)
• Agricultural materials including fruit tree and bush prunings, raspberry stalks, and infected bee hives for disease control
• Trees and brush from agricultural land clearing
• Fungus-infected elm wood, if no other acceptable means of disposal is available

Residents may not burn:

• Leaves
• Brush, trees, cane or driftwood from commercial or industrial land clearing
• Grass, hay, leaves, stumps or tires
• Construction materials or demolition debris
• Household trash

What times are best for open burning?

• You can help prevent wildland fires by burning early in the season. Wet and snowy winter conditions help hinder the rapid spread of fire on or under the ground.
• Changing weather conditions and increased fire danger in spring can lead to many days when open burning is not allowed.
• April is usually the worst month for brush fires. When snow recedes, but before new growth emerges, last year’s dead grass, leaves and wood are dangerous tinder. Winds also tend to be strong and unpredictable in April.

For more information on open burning in Massachusetts, visit Mass.gov.

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According to the National Weather Service and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), a potentially strong storm is expected to arrive in our area late Thursday, and remain until early Saturday. Possible impacts include damaging winds up to 65 mph and heavy rainfall. Power outages are also possible as a result of high winds.

MEMA is recommending that residents secure outdoor holiday decorations and test basement sump pumps if you live in a low-lying area. Residents are also encouraged to keep a close eye on the forecast and adjust holiday travel plans accordingly.

Power outage safety tips:

• Fully charge your cellphone, laptop, and other electronic devices.
• Ensure that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working and have fresh batteries.
• Know how to safely use a generator. 
• Take recommended safety precautions when using space heaters, a fireplace, or a woodstove to heat your home. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
• If possible, use flashlights instead of candles. If you must use candles, place them in safe holders away from anything that could catch fire. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Call 911 to report emergencies including downed power lines or if you are dependent on equipment that requires electricity and need medical assistance. Do not call 911 to report an outage or to ask about power restoration.
• Call your utility company to report power outages and get restoration information.
  • National Grid  1-800-465-1212
  • Eversource (formerly NSTAR) 1-800-592-2000
  • Eversource (formerly WMECO) 877-659-6326
  • Unitil (FG&E) 888-301-7700
  • Customers served by a municipal utility should locate their utility providers’ phone numbers.
• See more safety tips here.

NORTON — Chief Shawn Simmons is pleased to announce that the Norton Fire Department is offering a CPR class in February and March and encourages those interested to sign up.

WHEN:

• Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 7-9 p.m.
• Sunday, March 12, from 9-11 a.m.

WHERE:

Norton Fire Department, 70 East Main St.

WHAT:

The free community CPR class will cover CPR and choking for adults, children and infants. The course is open to anyone aged 10 years and older.

This class is intended for those who do not need a course completion card for a job or other requirements. This class is ideal for community groups, parents, grandparents, students, caregivers and anyone interested in learning how to save a life.

“Knowing how to perform CPR can help save a person in a life-threatening situation,” Chief Simmons said. “I am hopeful this class will provide community members with the confidence and knowledge they need to properly respond if they ever encounter a CPR or choking-related emergency.”

Those interested in attending a class must sign-up in advance. To sign up for the class or to learn more information, click here.

Those looking for a certification class they can call the Norton Fire Department at 508-285-0246 for more information.

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NORTON —Chief Shawn Simmons is pleased to announce that the Norton Fire Department is one of over 300 fire departments across the state to have been awarded a grant as part of the Department of Fire Services Fiscal Year 2023 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program.

The $18,595 grant awarded to the Norton Fire Department will be used to purchase a respirator fit test machine for firefighters’ air packs and N95 Masks.

The program provides local fire departments with a variety of equipment that makes the dangerous job of firefighting safer. This is the third year that funding has been awarded for this purpose as part of a five-year, $25 million bond bill filed by the Administration to support firefighter safety and health in the coming years.

Fire departments in Massachusetts were able to apply to this program for 121 different types of eligible equipment, including ballistic protective clothing, thermal protective clothing, gear washers and dryers, thermal imaging cameras, assorted hand tools and extrication equipment, communications resources, hazardous gas meters, fitness equipment and more.

“Every time a firefighter goes to work, they could be asked to rescue a child from a burning building, clean up a spill of hazardous materials, treat a patient with a contagious medical condition, or rush into a hostile event to rescue and treat victims,” said State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey. “This program is absolutely vital to helping fire departments prepare for the vast array of hazards they face today and making sure that firefighters go home safe after every call.”

A complete list of the awards by department can be found here.

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NORTON — Chief Shawn Simmons and the Norton Fire Department wish to share safety tips with community members planning to cook, bake and enjoy holiday meals over the coming days and weeks. 

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving and Christmas are peak days for home cooking fires, followed by the day before Thanksgiving and Easter, and Christmas Eve. A 2020 report also identified unattended cooking as the leading cause of cooking fires and casualties.

To prevent cooking fires and injuries this holiday season, the Norton Fire Department encourages residents to review the following tips from the NFPA: 

• Never leave anything cooking unattended. 
• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking so you can keep an eye on the food. Check on cooking turkeys frequently.
• Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stovetop. 
• If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner and do not move the pan. To keep the fire from restarting, leave the lid on until the pan is completely cool.
• If a fire starts in the oven, turn off the oven and leave the door closed. The oven should be checked and/or serviced before being used again.
• Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from the stove.
• Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy, coffee and other food and drink could cause serious burns.
• Keep knives out of the reach of children.
• Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
• Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children. They should be kept up high in a locked cabinet.
• Keep the kitchen and dining room floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, bags or other items while cooking or handling food.
• Test your smoke alarms and make sure the batteries are replaced if needed.

Additionally, the NFPA discourages the use of deep fryers for cooking turkeys, but those who do use one should do so on a flat surface outdoors and at least 10 feet away from structures, including porches. Turkeys should be completely thawed and dried before being placed in a deep fryer to avoid flare-ups.

For questions about cooking safety, please contact the Norton Fire Department at 508-285-0240.

The Norton Fire Department wishes everyone a happy, healthy and safe holiday season. 

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