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Norton keeps local emergency in place as cleanup continues; board weighs temporary operators and emergency contracting
Summary
After declaring a state of emergency for the Feb. 22 storm, the Select Board chose to delay rescinding it because DPW cleanup remained ongoing. Members discussed hiring temporary certified equipment operators, standing emergency contracts with contractors, insurance and union constraints, and pursuing state/federal reimbursement.
The Norton Select Board agreed Feb. 26 to hold off rescinding a local state of emergency declared Feb. 22 while Department of Public Works cleanup continues and the town explores options to strengthen emergency staffing.
Town Manager Mark Gold told the board that the DPW director advised cleanup operations are ongoing and recommended keeping the emergency declaration in place to preserve access to potential state and federal reimbursement. The chair said the declaration enables additional funding opportunities and noted the town’s snow‑removal account could be "in the around $300,000 or more," a figure he described as an estimate.
Board members praised DPW, police, fire and other crews for sustained storm work and discussed practical steps to increase capacity in future storms: hiring temporary certified operators (including retired local operators), verifying insurance and union rules for temporary hires, or establishing pre‑negotiated emergency contracts with large contractors that could be activated by the town for equipment and manpower. One board member noted neighboring towns maintain standing emergency contracts that are prearranged per piece of equipment and manpower.
The board directed staff to check insurance and union constraints and to evaluate whether standing emergency contracts would be cost‑effective given possible reimbursement eligibility under a declared emergency.
Why it matters: The town must balance the immediate need for manpower and equipment in extreme weather against contract costs and labor/insurance limits. Maintaining the emergency declaration preserves reimbursement options but also signals ongoing costs to taxpayers.
Next steps: Town staff will confirm legal/insurance constraints for temporary hires, research standing emergency contracting models used by neighboring towns, and continue to pursue state and federal reimbursement where eligible. No formal vote to rescind the emergency was taken at the meeting.
