By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – The City Council approved at its Nov. 5 meeting a transfer request of $100,000 from an Undesignated Account to a special account set up to fund the overtime and increased manpower costs incurred during Hurricane Sandy.
The impact of Hurricane Sandy on the city of Marlborough was significant but “not among the hardest hit as it relates to outages,” according to a communication discussed at the meeting to the City Council from Mayor Arthur Vigeant. The city was declared a “State of Emergency” on Saturday, Oct. 27 which will increase the city's ability to receive federal reimbursement for storm-related costs, Vigeant noted.
In the communication Vigeant thanked Emergency Management Director Don Cusson, Police Chief Mark Leonard, Fire Chief James Fortin, and Department of Public Works Foreman Chris White in particular “for their responsiveness throughout the duration of Hurricane Sandy.”
In a related matter, councilors voted to accept a grant of $99,805 for the fiscal year 2013 from the State 911 Department Support and Incentive Program to offset personnel costs associated with the city's dispatching center as well as technical enhancements to the 911 service.
Lawmakers also accepted a State 911 Department Training and Emergency Medical Dispatch grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for $41,818 to offset personnel costs associated with the dispatching center. The grant will also help fund overtime costs associated with meeting mandated emergency dispatching protocols.
In other business, City Council President Patricia Pope welcomed a group of Japanese exchange students from Akiruno, Tokyo and formally recognized them as “Honorary Citizens of the City of Marlborough.” ?Pope and City Council secretary Karen Boule presented each of the students with a proclamation from the mayor and expressed appreciation to the visiting students, as well as host students from the 1LT Charles W. Whitcomb Middle School and their families.
Principal Hiroyuki Tajima, who accompanied his students to the meeting, followed his country's custom of gift-giving, presenting individual gifts to each city councilor, and? bowing respectfully as he addressed each one.
Ward 7 City Councilor Donald Landers, a former assistant superintendent of schools, was instrumental in the conception of the Japanese exchange program and has helped maintain its success through the years.
Marlborough High School teacher Nancy Klein, who has been active in the program since its inception in 1994, organized the council visit and other activities taking place during the students” visit.
