HomeMy WebLinkAbout1941-10-14-LCPS-min.pdf LEXINGTOw COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
Meeting - October 14, 1941
A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Lexington
Committee on Public Safety was held in the Town Office Build-
ing on Tuesday evening, October 14, 1941 at 8 00 P M.
Chairman, Luther R Putney, Messrs Harold B Lamont ,
Robert Whitney, Allen Rucker, Manfred Warren, Zeeland Emery ,
Alan Adams , Robert Person, Richard Cromwell , Robert Mayo,
Lee Tarbox, John J Garrity, F K Johnson, a Mr Chambers
and Mrs . Lamont were also present.
Mr. Minard of the State Office was present
Mr. Putney asked Mr. Minard to advise the Committee which
of the two plans the Committee should follow -- that of the
Planning Division or that of the State. Mr Minard explained
that all cities and towns cannot be operating on plans of their
own and that is why the State set up a change , dividing the
towns and cities into general groups . The State expects every
city and town to conform to the General Plan. The State is not
so much interested in how many districts a town has just as long
as the districts operate effectively
Mr. Minard stated that in the event of an attack in Lex-
ington, the Chief Air Raid Warden is immediately and automatically
in charge of all the protective facilities in the town, including
the regular fire department , first aid units , etc The Chief Air
Raid Warden receives all reports of damages . The Auxiliary Firemen
work under control of the regular fire department officer who is
on duty.
Fires snou_d be reported to the Control Center. That is why
it is so important to select men of sound judgment and men in
whom people have confidence. It is up to him to decide whether or
not he needs to call for help, or if the people in the neighborhood
in which the fire occurs can handle it. The Warden's first duty
is to size up a fire If he feels he can handle it , his first
job is to put the fire out and then report it . If he cannot handle
it , he should report first and then go to work on it
In the Report Center there should be only the Chief Warden,
Fire and Police representatives , first aid, emergency housing and
feeding, a representative of the public utilities and highway de-
partment
The Chief Air Raid Warden has two telephones - one direct
line to Newton and another telephone for his use when he needs
to call out for help from Newton or Newton is calling for help
from Lexington.
The Chief Air Raid Warden and his staff should know what
is going on at all times Nothing should be done by anyone in
the district without the orders of the Chief Warden.
As soon as two thirds of the fire equipment is in service,
the Chief Warden notifies Newton. Newton then contacts all
surrounding cities and towns -- Arlington, Belmont , Waltham,
Lincoln and Watertown to send out what equipment is available
to the border line of Lexington to stand by
The job for the local Chairman is to see that things
function as planned to function in an emergency He is the
coordinator of everything -- the Commander-in-Chief
Within the last weep or ten days an agreement has been
drawn up between the Red Cross and, the State CommiLlee on Public
Safety whereby the Red Cross is putting all their services at
the disposal of the Towns
Mr Minard stressed that it is essential to have all
divisions up to full strength Having names on paper is not
enough
Mr Minard explairad that Emergency Housing is simply
putting people up over night Emergency Shelter is locating
permanent homes for the people the next day A seven room
house, with five in the family, should take in two people who
may have been bombed out of their own homes
Emergency Feeding comes under protection and Emergency
Food comes under supplies
The meeting adjourned at 10 40 P M.
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