In a recent government meeting, officials discussed significant updates regarding hazardous materials management and emergency preparedness. The town is set to dispose of 22 five-gallon containers of PFAS firefighting foam, which has been on-site since 1993. The paperwork for this disposal has been submitted to the Department of Environmental Services (DES) and accepted, marking a crucial step in eliminating dangerous substances from town property. The foam will be transported to a nearby fire academy, with officials emphasizing the importance of this move for public safety and potential cost savings for the town.

Additionally, the town's emergency operations plan, last updated in October 2017, is in the process of being revised. Officials have located the original vendor who created the plan and are working to obtain a digital copy. This internal effort aims to update the plan without incurring additional costs, as the changes required are primarily minor housekeeping updates. Once finalized, the updated plan will be submitted for approval to Homeland Security and FEMA before being adopted by the board.

The meeting also touched on the attendance of department heads at these sessions. There was a proposal to allow department heads to leave after presenting their reports, rather than remaining for the entire meeting. This suggestion aims to respect their time and responsibilities while still ensuring that the board receives necessary updates. The discussion highlighted a desire for efficiency in meetings while maintaining effective communication among departments.

Overall, the meeting underscored the town's commitment to safety and operational efficiency, with plans in place to address both hazardous materials and emergency preparedness in a cost-effective manner.