By Susan Spencer
The Telegram & Gazette
UXBRIDGE, Mass. — Fire Chief William T. Kessler told selectmen on April 23 that the department needs town meeting voters to appropriate $210,000 to purchase 33 self-contained breathing apparatus, or SCBA, to protect the health and safety of firefighters. The department’s existing SCBAs, which are the air tanks and mask worn by firefighters when they enter a burning structure, are outdated and don’t meet the current standards.
Selectmen voted to reconsider their position on the article and then voted to recommend favorable action on it at the May 8 annual town meeting.
SCBA is “arguably the most important piece of equipment for a firefighter,” Chief Kessler said. The department’s current inventory dates back to standards set in 1992 and 1997 but is missing important safety components set as standards in the 2000s.
The newer SCBA standards include a visual low-air display in the mask area to supplement the audio low-air alert and a universal air connector that allows another firefighter to plug into one with a low air supply and transfer air. They also have seals between the air hose and mask to keep chemicals and nuclear agents from penetrating. Among other improvements, the new air packs are lighter and more efficient and can carry 60 minutes’ worth of air instead of the current ones that carry 30.
Selectmen also voted to reconsider and then recommended favorable action on Article 12, a request from the Cable Advisory Committee to appropriate $130,000 to purchase new PEG (public, educational, government) cable access equipment for the studio at the new high school.
Barry Giles, Cable Advisory Committee staff member, told selectmen that some of the current equipment dates back to the 1980s and $2,000 has been spent from capital funds to repair the equipment this year. The old equipment is largely based on videotape format, instead of compact media that is currently used.
The town currently receives $158,000 for PEG community television from its cable contract.
Mr. Giles said that viewers will get better quality images, more coverage because the cable TV staff won’t have to share equipment as much with schools, and more coverage of the middle school because the old studio will be available for use at that school.
Selectmen did not make a recommendation on action requested by Director of Public Works Benn S. Sherman to replace the existing 900-ton capacity salt shed with one that holds 2,600 tons, which is what the town regularly uses. Mr. Sherman also said the existing shed is in a flood plain and needs to be moved for environmental reasons.
Also at the selectmen’s meeting, Chairman Bruce Desilets announced that the state Department of Environmental Protection had sent a letter to the Uxbridge Water Department congratulating the staff on its outstanding performance in 2011. The Uxbridge department achieved one of the top scores in the Medium/Large Community System category of the 2012 Public Water System Awards program. An awards ceremony will be held at the Waterworks Museum in Boston on May 8.
Selectman Beth Pitman announced that 45 of the 80 spaces in the community garden on Sutton Street have been rented. The other 35 25-by-20-foot plots are available for rent at $20 each.
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