Westborough Housing Trust OKs SWAT and emergency-services training at 6 Beach Street

The Westborough Affordable Housing Trust voted unanimously Jan. 10 to allow regional and local emergency-services teams to use 6 Beach Street as a training site while the property awaits demolition. The motion, moved by a Trust member and seconded, directed the chair and a small working group to coordinate the level, timing and safety arrangements.

The Trust heard a presentation from Corporal John Vosikis of the Westborough Police Department, who described training conducted by the Central Mass Law Enforcement Council (CEMLAC) and outlined two tiers of building training: a tier 1 interior exercise using simunitions and paper targets that leaves no permanent damage, and a tier 2 that can include forced entry and structural breaching. "We provide event security, execute search warrants, respond to barricaded subjects, and other high risk law enforcement activities," Vosikis said in the meeting.

Trust members pressed for safety measures and neighborhood notification. Vosikis said team members operate under their agencies’ liability coverage and that his assistant team commander would perform an advance interior walkthrough to identify unsafe areas and mark them off. The Trust required signs and public notice; Vosikis noted the department could post on its social channels and place signage at the site.

The motion specified that training by CEMLAC, Westborough Police and Westborough Fire would be allowed with the chair and a working group arranging the precise level and timing; the Trust recorded a 5–0 vote in favor. After the vote the chair said staff would draft a formal letter documenting the authorization and timelines and named himself as a point of contact to notify local chiefs and partners.

Trustees and staff emphasized that tier 2 training involving permanent structural damage should be scheduled close to known demolition dates so the site can be secured and any exterior repairs or boarding can be completed prior to demolition. The Trust also asked for an advance safety walkthrough by the SWAT team and for the Trust to be copied on notifications to the community.

The Trust directed staff to proceed with the agreed next steps and to use the chair and working group for approvals and coordination. No fines, permits or formal indemnity documents were adopted at the meeting; Vosikis said his commander could draft an indemnity policy if the Trust desired one in writing.