State Rep. James Arciero talked with Westford Police Chief, Thomas McEnaney, and Westford Fire Chief, Joseph Targ, on May 7, to gain their perspective on the COVID-19 shutdown from the front lines. When asked about their departments’ P.P.E. (personal protection equipment) supplies, Targ said that initially, they were struggling to find gowns and N95 masks, but eventually, through a variety of sources and donations, Westford’s first responders received the equipment they needed. “Right now we’re pretty well stocked up, but it’s one of those things that you don’t want to take your foot off the pedal.”
McEnaney agreed. “When this all started, we had very limited supplies to deal with it, ” he said. “Just the necessary supplies to deal with a routine situation, but this is anything but routine; it is a fluid situation.”
McEnaney thanked the many people and organizations that stepped up to help locate medical supplies including state Rep. Arciero; MEMA (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency); Westford Health Director, Jeff Stephens; Westford’s Project/Procurement Specialist, Sam Gray; the local schools for providing disinfectants, and donations from a variety of places such as St. Catherine of Alexandria Church, who donated masks originally meant for a mission project.
With Governor Charlie Baker ordering mandatory face coverings as of May 6, Arciero asked McEnaney how the Chief plans on his department handling anyone in town who defies the order. “We’re taking the approach with the mask order that it’s more education then enforcement,” McAnaney said. “If we can educate people about wearing a mask, and why it’s important to wear a mask, that’s our primary. The enforcement side of this is coming from the Board of Health.”
Both Chiefs thanked Rep. Arciero for House Bill 4611: An Act Relative to Emergency Hazard Health Duty, legislation he filed recently that would protect first responders in Massachusetts from losing sick or vacation time if they contract COVID-19. “I personally support that bill, ” McAnaney said. “I think it would benefit and clear up some of the issues and questions that we do have now and that we may have in the future.”
“We appreciate your help, Jim,” Targ said. “Even the guys, they’ve been following this along, the bill. They really appreciate the work you’ve done with this.”
