HomeMy WebLinkAbout1941-12-26 345
4111 SELECTMEN'S MEETING
December 26 , 1941
A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was
held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, at
8:00 P.M. Chairman Giroux and iV'iessrs Potter, Locke,
and Sarano were present The Clerk was also present.
This special meeting was called in accordance with
the instructions of the hairman telephoned to the Clerk
at 12:3J P.M. Accordingly, she telephoned Messrs . Potter,
Sarano, Rowse, and Locke and notified them of the meeting.
She was unable to reach Mr. Rowse, as he is in New Jersey
until next Monday. Chief Taylor , Chief Sullivan, Sergeant
Neal , Malcolm Clifford, William C. Paxton, and Mr. Luther
Putney, Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety, were
also notified to attend the meeting. Mr. Putney was re-
quested to ask the members of the Executive Committee to
attend, also.
Mr. Paxton, Chief Sullivan, Sergeant Neal, and
twelve members of the Committee on Public Safety were
present.
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at
8 :10 P.M. He said that he had called the meeting without
an opportunity to talk with the Chief of Police. He said
that we would be having new problems arising all the time
in defense work, and as these problems arise, the groups
should consult and determine a policy to follow when
notification is received He said that in the final
analysis, the responsibility will come back on the Board
of Selectmen.
Chairman Giroux said that this morning Chief
Sullivan received a letter dated December 24th from
John F. Stockes , Acting Commissioner of Public Safety,
and addressed to the heads of police departments . The
letter said that Governor Saltonstall had received a
letter from Major F. B. Wilby, of the U. S . Army, say-
ing that information had been received from reliable
sources to the effect that oundists, fascists, etc.
might attempt subversive elements and sabotage during
the holidays . He requested that all agencies charged
with suppression of sabotage and fifth column activities
be especially alert. Also, the Secretary of War wired
the Governor a message to the same effect.
Mr Giroux said that it was important that the
Chief of Police know what the policy was to be when a
message of this kind was received, and what the attitude 4111
of the Committee on Public Safety would be. A lengthy
discussion on the subject followed. It was finally under-
stood by the Selectmen that upon receipt of any message
such as above received by either Chief Sullivan, the
ARP, or the Committee on Public Safety or Air Observation
head, the person receiving it is to immediately notify
the other parties. Chief Sullivan is to be notified
first by telephone , and then it is to be confirmed in
writing. If the Chief is out of town, one of the ser-
geants will be left in charge.
Mr. Warren said that if the Report Center received
any warning message, the person on duty would report to
Mr. Putney and to Chief Sullivan or the Sergeant in
charge immediately.
It was decided that during all periods of special
warning, such as this one, vital points in the town are
to be covered such as the telephone office, the Edison
plant, the standpipe, etc. Sergeant Neal asked if a
shelter could be built at the standpipe and the Chair-
man instructed Mr Paxton to have a shelter built.
Mr. Sarano suggested that during these periods of
emergency, the street lights remain on all night. Mr.
Putney polled the Executive Committee, and it was unan-
Street imously voted that the street lights should remain on 4111
lights all night. Mr. Giroux asked how the Selectmen felt
about it. Mr. Sarano moved that the street lights be
kept on all night through January 1st. Mr. Locke
seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman
asked Mr . Paxton to arrange to have this done . He said
that the matter of keeping the street lights on all year
would be taken up at the Annual Town Meeting in March.
The meeting adjourned at 9 :00 P.M.
A true record, Attest :
Clerk
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