By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – A discussion regarding the management of Fire Department funds, which had resulted in removing a rescue truck from service for several days, continued at the Oct. 3 City Council meeting.
Fire Chief Fred Flynn appeared before the Finance Committee earlier in the evening and explained that the department's lack of a full force of firefighters had resulted in significant overtime costs. In June the city closed Fire Station No. 3 for several days after the department ran out of overtime money. Council President Arthur Vigeant urged Flynn to fill the vacancies in the department as soon as possible, which would help alleviate the shortage of manpower.
A request by Mayor Nancy Stevens for an intra-departmental transfer of $79,329 to the Overtime account was approved by the council.
In other business, the cultural exchange between Marlborough and Akiruno, Japan, continues to flourish, and local and Japanese students, educators and host families were warmly welcomed by Stevens and members of the City Council to the council's meeting. The traditional exchange of gifts and business cards took place and other gestures of hospitality were extended.
Stevens introduced Nancy Klein, a teacher at Marlborough High School, to acknowledge her active involvement in the program from its inception in 1994 to the present.
“The program would not be operating today if it were not for Nancy Klein,” Stevens said.
Ward 7 City Councilor Donald Landers assisted the mayor in her welcoming remarks and distribution of gifts. A former assistant superintendent of schools, he was instrumental in the conception of the Japanese exchange program and has helped maintain its success through the years. Landers has visited Japan many times and serves as a host each time students visit the city.
In other business, the council approved the expenditure of funds received by the Council of Aging – a grant of $10,000 through Bay Path Elder Services. Jennifer Claro, Council on Aging director, said the grant was designated to provide educational, preventive health, socialization and language programs for underserved Portuguese and Latino seniors. The new Multi-Cultural outreach worker will assist staff member Ana Christina Oliveira, who has started preliminary work in this area.
“We have received a lot of interest by the Spanish-Portuguese seniors and we started a preliminary ESL (English as a Second Language) program recently,” Claro said. “We are looking forward to helping the seniors who will greatly benefit by these new activities.”