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Select board appoints retired firefighter Art Whipple as deputy emergency management director
Summary
The select board moved and approved the appointment of Art Whipple as deputy emergency management director; Whipple is a retired firefighter with radio communications experience and will assist in mitigation‑plan work and emergency coordination.
The Swansea Select Board voted to appoint Art Whipple as deputy emergency management director at its July 23 meeting.
Whipple, who said he retired from the fire department two to three years ago and lives on South Winchester Street, told the board he has extensive emergency‑services experience and can assist with radio communications and mitigation planning. He said he has met with Emergency Management Director Kevin Westcott and reviewed department needs, including consolidating equipment currently stored at several fire stations and updating a mitigation plan staff expect to complete within a year.
A board member moved to accept Whipple's appointment and a second followed. Chair Russell called for a vote; the motion passed with voice vote. "Welcome, Art — we appreciate you stepping up for this," Russell said after the vote.
Discussion: board members noted Whipple’s background and said he would help coordinate equipment consolidation and mitigation‑plan updates. No compensation or contract terms were discussed at the meeting; the appointment was presented as a town volunteer/municipal appointment and formalized by the board’s motion.
Outcome: appointment approved by voice vote with no roll‑call tally recorded in the minutes. Staff were directed to complete any necessary paperwork and integrate Whipple into emergency management planning.
