Norton Fire Department

Chief Shawn Simmons and the Norton Fire Department would like to remind residents that the 2024 Open Air Burning season will end Wednesday, May 1.

The Commonwealth’s annual burning period spans from Jan. 15 to May 1. Residents are able to burn brush, cane, driftwood, tree pruning and other forestry with a permit granted by the Norton Fire Department.

Anyone who plans to use the remaining days of this year’s open burning season must obtain and activate an open burning permit. Residents are also reminded to never leave a fire unattended, to keep fire extinguishing materials handy while burning, and to only burn at least 75 feet from all buildings.

Thank you for your commitment to ensuring another safe open burning season this year.

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Town Election 4/27/2024 Civil Service Law Ballot Question Information

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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The Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee of Norton has developed a comprehensive Hazard Mitigation Plan that identifies and prioritizes strategies to mitigate the impacts of natural hazards and climate change on our community.

Engage with the Draft Plan:
• Online Access: Visit the Town’s website at https://www.nortonma.org/ to review the draft plan.
• In-Person Review: Hard copies are available for review at the Town Hall located at 70 East Main Street, Norton, MA 02766, the Fire Department, and the Council on Aging.

Commentary Period: April 15, 2024 – April 29, 2024

To provide Feedback fill out the form HERE. 

Norton’s Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee has developed this plan as a strategy for our Town against existing and future natural hazard threats and the evolving challenges posed by climate change. Implementation of this plan will significantly enhance our resilience to hazards such as flooding, snowstorms, high winds, and extreme temperatures.

To view the Mitigation Plan click HERE.

Town officials and local stakeholders developed this plan with funding support from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approval, and Town adoption, of the Hazard Mitigation Plan allows the Town to pursue pre- and post-disaster hazard mitigation grant opportunities.

For Further Inquiries:
• Shawn Simmons, Chief of Norton Fire Department
• Phone: 508-285-0249
• Email: simmonss@nortonfire.com

Public engagement lies at the core of our Hazard Mitigation Plan. It is imperative that this plan reflects the diverse perspectives and priorities of our community members as we move to mitigate risks posed by natural hazards and climate change.

The Town looks forward to a collaborative effort in building a resilient and secure future!

Group 4 led by Captain Fuller assisted in getting a kayak back to shore today on Lake Winnecunnet. Shown in the picture is FF Jim Patten holding the rope attached to FF Matt Cornell in the Mustang Suit making his way towards the kayak. The owner was safe on the shore during this incident.

Can you identify these Norton Firefighters?

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

WHEN:
Tuesday, April 9 from 6-8 p.m.
Saturday, May 11 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 certification or 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 for more information, click here. Those seeking a certification class can call the Norton Fire Department at 508-285-0246 for more information.

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