New Bedford 2020 - VHB.com

A City Master Plan New Bedford 2020Security Team consists of a K-9 Unit with airport responsibility, and a Marine Unit addressing seaportconcerns, and each has a sub-station at its target location.The main headquarters facility recently received a facelift that included a new roof, painting, new floors, façaderepairs, and a repaved parking lot. There is little dedicated jail space and overnight prisoners are taken to theAsh Street Jail. As the main headquarters building has no room for expansion, growth issues within thedepartment will need to be addressed in the future. Station 2 on Cove Street is not ADA accessible and lackscivilian parking and there is no consolidated parking for the cruisers. Station 3 on Ashley Boulevard is the onlybuilding of the three that originally served as a police station. Thus, the existing facilities, in particular theheadquarters building, do not function well for public safety facilities and upgrades are needed.As of 2010, there are 260 sworn personnel in the Department, including those of rank. Of the approximately200 officers (sworn members not of rank), approximately 150 are in the Patrol Division and the rest aredistributed among the administrative and investigative functions, which are based at the main headquartersand district stations. The patrol function is spread out among the main headquarters and the two districtstations.Public HealthKey programs of the Public Health Department include childhood lead prevention, tobacco control, alcoholprevention, wellness, and public health emergency preparedness operations. The Department also maintains aMassachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Certified Municipal Laboratory that functions as aregional facility at 1000 West Rodney French Boulevard.The Department works in collaboration with the community to assess strengths and weaknesses anddetermine the health status of individuals that may impact the community. The Department also developshealth policy and recommends initiatives to carry out policies as well as works in collaboration with localhealthcare providers, schools, day care providers, and numerous at risk populations within the community toassure that necessary, high quality and effective services are available.In August 2010, the Board of Health demonstrated the relationship between health and the environment inwhich we live; and the link between public health, planning and the built environment, by adopting aresolution entitled “Planning for a Healthier Future through theBuilt Environment and Community Design” (provided herein asAppendix G).Of the many projects undertaken by the Department, the effort todevelop New Bedford into a leader in the statewide Mass inMotion (MIM) 4 initiative is significant for the long-term health ofthe community. This is a multi-faceted public health effort toaddress the national obesity epidemic in our community with aparticular focus on the importance of healthy eating and physicalactivity.Over half of Massachusetts adults, and onethird of middle and high school students areoverweight or obese. Mass in Motionfeatures a multi-faceted approach that includesregulations to promote healthy eating andphysical activity, and grants to cities and townsto make wellness initiatives a priority.4 http://www.mass.gov/massinmotion/City Services and Resources11-5