Selectman Requests Public Inquiry to Storm Response

Third Selectman Gavin Anderson has sent a letter to First Selectman Gordon Joseloff requesting a public inquiry on the town, utility and emergency response efforts to Saturday's severe storm.

Joseloff said he hasn't responded to Anderson's letter yet but said he would confer with Representative Town Meeting moderator Hadley Rose about the RTM Public Protection Committee evaluating the response. He said that committee is charged with the oversight of public safety.

The text of Anderson's letter is published below.

Dear Gordon:

Now that the rain, wind and perhaps the urgency, but apparently not the power outages, have settled from last weekend's windstorm, I am formally recommending and requesting a full public inquiry be undertaken by The Town to track the history of events, and Town,  CL & P and other emergency service responses to the events that occurred between Friday March 12, and up to the present time.

This is now one full week after the onslaught of at least 65-knot winds and severe (but not unusual) heavy rains, and we know from the press coverage of some of it.  I have received a number of calls and requests for an opportunity to voice opinions on this issue.

I recommend most strongly that a Town Commission or Committee of Inquiry be formed immediately by you or we all as Town Selectmen, with specifically established goals and a Report deadline, including recommendations as to what additional emergency steps, and consideration of the longer term issues that need to be faced.  This should be framed  to prevent reoccurrence of the difficulties suffered by so many residents and businesses during this event.  We are after all in a hurricane prone area, and this was close to but nowhere near what we might expect with an even greater and less directionally steady windstorm – not to say sea surges in excess of the only 4 feet plus of this event.

Please give this matter your urgent consideration.

By way of note: The Maintenance Study Committee discussed yesterday the level of damage to town-owned properties as a result of this storm.  I am pleased to report that schools, town buildings, Parks & Rec. facilities all suffered only very minimal damage – a credit to the good building management practices of our Public Works, Schools Administration and Parks & Rec executives; Congratulations to them all for a job well done!

Editor's Notes: Anderson serves as chair of the Maintenance Study Committee.