Around Town: Foxborough Emergency Response Groups Seeking Volunteers; National Grid Approved for Work on Belcher Road

Foxborough Citizen Corps is seeking volunteers to be part of the town’s emergency preparedness response groups.

“You do not have to be a medical professional to be involved,” said Foxborough Board of Selectmen chair James DeVellis. “Two free classes are coming up. The first one is Monday, April 1 and the second one is Monday, April 8. Both classes are at 6:30 p.m. in the McGinty Room of the Foxborough Public Safety Building.”

To register for Foxborough’s Medical Reserve Corps or CERT teams, visit Foxborough Citizen Corps’ website at www.foxboroughcitizencorps.org or call the Foxborough Health Department at (508) 543-1207.

“It’s one group that was very instrumental in working with the police and fire chiefs, town manager, selectmen and various departments in town to better prepare the community for emergencies,” DeVellis said.

Foxborough Fire Chief Roger Hatfield recently appeared on Foxboro Cable Access’ Foxborough Central to chat about the town’s Citizen Corps.

“[The group] used to be known as Foxborough Emergency Management Agency, the local FEMA,” Hatfield told host Bob Hickey. “These local folks have assisted the town when we have some type of emergency.”

Hatfield said the Citizen Corps helps the town organize volunteers in “a manner that fits the federal module. This is a town-wide, emergency response team.”

Lauren Bitar is currently serving as the group’s coordinator and works closely with Health Director Pauline Clifford with the Medical Reserve Corps, according to Hatfield.

National Grid to Install New Support for Pole on Belcher Road

Selectmen approved National Grid’s request to install new support to a pole on Belcher Road.

The support, according to a National Grid letter to selectmen, will maintain poles and wires together to protect fixtures. The utility company will also lay and maintain underground laterals, cables and wires on Belcher Road to make connections with poles and buildings.

The poles will be made of "sound timber."