GILL — The town is seeking feedback from residents on a draft Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) plan until Monday, April 6.
The 41-page draft plan, prepared by the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG), details some of the town’s infrastructural, societal and environmental needs, along with what strengths it has for hazard resiliency. Once the public comment period on the draft plan closes, FRCOG will submit the plan to the state, and the town would become eligible for grants to support projects and programs identified by the MVP process.
“We had a lot of different town departments represented as workshop participants and board members, which was really great,” FRCOG Senior Land Use and Natural Resources Planner Andrea Donlon told the Selectboard on Monday about the process of drafting the plan. “The conversations were very fruitful.”
The draft breaks down the top concerns for Gill’s infrastructural, societal and environmental needs. These include first responder communication gaps from a lack of service connectivity, roadway conditions, stormwater drainage, no access to warming centers during extreme temperatures, wildfire threats from surrounding forests, invasive species, a lack of housing diversity, support for senior residents and insect-borne illness.
Underscoring one of these issues was Gill Fire Chief William Kimball, who shared that the service dead zone around the Public Safety Complex at 196 Main Road impacts first responders’ emergency radios. He said that as long as the internet connection at the complex is stable, they have repeaters to boost the Wi-Fi connectivity for these radios, except for when they are in areas behind the building.
“I know we can be on a call and all of a sudden lose [service] at the shop,” Highway Superintendent John Miner said.
In terms of some of the hazard resiliency ideas that could eventually receive MVP grant funding, Donlon highlighted a need to install backup generators at Gill Elementary School, Town Hall and Stoughton Place, the senior living facility; resolve the Public Safety Complex dead zone; create a resiliency library so residents can borrow emergency preparedness items; hold knowledge-sharing workshops to educate neighbors; and support aging Gill residents so they can continue to live in town, among other goals.
The town’s roads and culverts are also of concern, with Selectboard member Greg Snedeker noting that MVP funds could support replacing or repairing aging culverts. Miner agreed.
Energy Commission Chair Vicky Jenkins commented that roadway infrastructure is “the top priority.” Jenkins also said that the idea of putting backup generators in municipal buildings is good in case of prolonged power outages.
Comments can be sent to Town Hall via Town Administrator Ray Purington, who can be reached at administrator@gillmass.org. A copy of the draft plan is available on the town website at tinyurl.com/38rrv7ba.