2011 Town Report - Town of Ludlow

DEPARTMENT OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURERSThe purpose of the Weights & Measures Department is to test, adjust, seal, or condemn all weighing and measuringdevices used for buying and selling. The Department is also involved in consumer protection and investigates allconsumer complaints. Weights & Measures also checks scanners in all retail establishments for accuracy.SCALESOver 10,000 lbs. 35,000-10,000 lbs. 1100-1,000 lbs. 1Under 100 lbs. 62Metric Weights 32Apothecary Weights 30Gasoline Pumps 116Oil Tanks 7Reverse Vending 4Scanning System 14TOTAL 270Amount of fees billed $4,719Respectfully submittedDouglas WilkSealer Weights & MeasuresFIRE DEPARTMENTThe Fire Department continued to provide fire and emergency services to the Town, twenty-four hours a day, sevendays a week, with a staff of dedicated Firefighter/EMT’s and Paramedics. Services provided by the Departmentincluded fire suppression, hazardous materials response, rescue, paramedic level ambulance service, carbonmonoxide response, fire prevention and inspection, and fire education.2011 was dominated by extreme weather events. The year started with record snowfall in January and Februarywhich affected emergency response, caused numerous building collapses and closures, and buried many of theTown’s fire hydrants. Although not in the direct path of the June 1 tornado, we sustained damage from theaccompanying severe thunderstorms, including downed trees and power lines and multiple lightning strikes, one ofwhich caused a structure fire at Blisswood Village condominium complex. The Ludlow Fire Department providedmutual aid assistance in the immediate twenty-four hours following the tornado to our neighbors in Wilbraham, whosuffered a devastating and direct hit from this storm. The microburst that occurred on July 26 brought high windsand hail, some the size of baseballs, causing widespread damage throughout the southern portion of Town. In lateAugust, Hurricane Irene set its sights on Western Massachusetts. Fortunately, Ludlow was spared most of theeffects of this storm. The late October Nor’easter was the worst of the year’s weather events; heavy wet snowcaused massive widespread damage and unprecedented power outages throughout the Town.Captain Charles “Chuck” Cabana retired on January 30, 2011 after nearly 34 years of service. Chuck started as anauxiliary firefighter in 1977 and was appointed a call firefighter in 1979. On January 25, 1982 he became apermanent firefighter/emergency medical technician. He was appointed to Captain on July 1, 1988, a position heheld until his retirement. Captain Cabana was a certified Hazardous Materials Technician and served on the DistrictStatewide Hazardous Materials Team since 1990. Captain Cabana was also a founding member of the Department’sstudent fire education program. I thank Captain Cabana for his years of hard work and dedication to the Town ofLudlow and to the Ludlow Fire Department. We wish him good luck and a happy, healthy and long retirement.78