The town is studying a new service that would allow officials to instantly notify residents and businesses of emergencies via land phone, cell phones, e-mails and pagers.
Police Chief Bartley King told selectmen last night he is currently studying three different vendors who provide the service that will be funded for the first year via a federal grant the department received.
Once the service is implemented, town officials will be able to notify people of emergencies, ranging from fires to hazardous material spills to water main breaks.
King said many towns, including Dedham, Walpole, Needham, Natick and Medfield have such emergency notification systems.
However, King said there will be additional annual costs, and selectmen said they want a better idea of what those costs may be before implementing a system.
Currently, the town uses a scroll on cable television for emergency notifications, and the schools have a reverse phone system to notify parents. But King said new systems allow the town to notify people directly affected by an emergency down to individual streets and neighborhoods.
Last night King requested permission to send out notifications to residents and ask whether they would want to be notified by cell phone pager or e-mail and provide those contacts. He said the system will automatically have the ability to notify residents and businesses by land line.
But selectmen said they want more information first, specifically on ongoing operational costs as well as the policy on how and when the system can be used.
"In concept, this is certainly a wonderful thing the town can use and we should be pursuing it, but I have a number of questions," said Selectman Bill Plasko.
King agreed a policy is needed, and said the system will not be solely under his purview. It will be available for other departments and General Manager John Carroll.
King said it also costs up to $9,000 to make a call to the entire town list, so it won't be used for anything frivolous.
Carroll said he would like to take a more detailed look at the budget implications.
"I'd like to know what other towns are paying for this type of service," said Carroll, who agreed to work out the details of the plan with King and get back to selectmen.
King said he is evaluating three systems, which range in price from roughly $10,000 a year to $30,000.
In other news, selectmen last night voted to close the Norwood Elks Lodge on March 10, 11 and 24 after three automatic gaming devices being used for gambling were found on the premises by police Jan. 10.
Attorney David Thomas, representing the lodge, said the establishment takes full responsibility and offered to voluntarily close its doors March 10 and 11 as well as to surrender the one gaming device it owns.
Thomas did ask that the two other devices owned by a vending corporation be returned to the company.
Selectmen, though, opted for a third day.
Daily News staff writer Brian Falla can be reached at 781-433-8339 or at bfalla@cnc.com
