2009-2352009-235
Resolution Authorizing the Use of Town Hall Facilities to be Used as Cooling Centers
During Periods of Extreme Heat
At a regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger, Dutchess County,
New York, held at Town Hall, 20 Middlebush Road, Wappingers Falls, New York, on July 13,
2009.
The meeting was called to order by Christopher Colsey, Supervisor, and upon roll being
called, the following were present:
PRESENT: Supervisor
Councilmembers
ABSENT:
Christopher J. Colsey
William H. Beale
Vincent F. Bettina
Maureen McCarthy
Joseph P. Paoloni
The following Resolution was introduced by Councilman Beale and seconded by
Councilwoman McCarthy.
WHEREAS, at the direction of Dutchess County Executive, William Steinhaus, a county
level committee was created to establish a protocol for handling summer heat waves when the
heat index exceeds 100 degrees and the need to open cooling centers, especially to assist the
elderly and the very young who are most prone to adverse affects from such heat waves; and
WHEREAS, the committee recommended that local municipalities open their Town Hall
facilities to be used as cooling centers during such periods of extreme heat; and
WHEREAS, if local municipalities are unable to handle the number of people seeking
respite from the heat, the County has made arrangements to activate five cooling centers that
have been designated throughout the county; and
WHEREAS, the county level committee also urges local municipalities to work with
other local partners, including churches and other non -profits to offer additional cooling centers
at convenient locations for residents to find respite from excessive heat.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
1. The recitations above set forth are incorporated in this Resolution as if fully set
forth and adopted herein.
2. The Town Board hereby authorizes the use of Town Hall facilities and rooms to
be used as a cooling center by residents, especially the elderly and the very young,
during periods of excessive heat.
3. The Town Board hereby authorizes the Town Supervisor, Christopher J. Colsey,
to coordinate and designate the use of Town Hall facilities as a cooling center
during periods of excessive heat upon the advice and recommendation from the
Dutchess County Office for Aging, Dutchess County Department of Emergency
Response, Dutchess County Department of Health, the American Red Cross and
such other agencies as may have appropriate input during such periods of
excessive heat.
4. The Town Board hereby authorizes the Town Supervisor, Christopher J. Colsey,
to coordinate a program of establishing cooling centers throughout the Town with
local churches, religious institutions, and other non-profit organizations that may
have facilities to be used as cooling centers.
The foregoing was put to a vote which resulted as follows:
CHRISTOPHER COLSEY, SUPERVISOR
Voting:
AYE
WILLIAM H. BEALE, COUNCILMAN
Voting:
AYE
VINCENT F. BETTINA, COUNCILMAN
Voting:
AYE
MAUREEN McCARTHY, COUNCILWOMAN
Voting:
AYE
JOSEPH P. PAOLONI, COUNCILMAN
Voting:
ABSENT
Dated: Wappingers Falls, New York
7/13/2009
The Resolution is hereby duly declared adopted.
*HN C. M STERSON, TOWN CLERK
NO5
Dutchess County
Office for the
Aging/NY Connects
William R. Steinhaus
County Executive
John A. Beale
Director
Aging
(845)486-2555
Fax(945)496-2571
NY Connects
(945)486-2555
Fax (845) 486-2599
27 High Street
Poughkeepsie
New York
12601
A s_o�
Dear Supervisors and Town Board Members:
As you may recall, three years ago the Dutchess County Office for the Aging opened five
cooling centers in various areas of the county in response to a dangerous heat wave where the
heat index exceeded 100 degrees. Prolonged periods of excessive heat put our elderly and
our very young at risk and these cooling centers offered a safe haven for those who did not
have air-conditioning.
Fortunately, there has not been a need to open centers since that time. At the direction of
County Executive Steinhaus, a committee consisting of the Office for the Aging, Department
of Emergency Response, Department of Heath including the Medical Reserve Corp, the
Department of Mental Hygiene, American Red Cross and Central Hudson has worked to
establish a protocol for handling future summer heat waves and the need to open cooling
centers.
Because residents are generally more comfortable dealing with people they knout in their
local community, and are often unwilling or unable to travel to obtain assistance, we believe
this program would be most effective in helping our residents on a very local level.
Therefore, we are encouraging municipalities to provide the first line of services to residents
in these instances as you do in all emergency operations. Local officials can decide to open
their town hall facilities or encourage residents to get out of the heat at the local library. You
could also work with your local partners including churches and other non -profits to offer
convenient locations for residents to find respite from the heat. If, in a specific instance, a
municipality is unable to handle the situation due to the number of people involved or the
dimension of the problem, the County would be available to provide support.
In the event a situation cannot be handled at the local level, the County would activate five
cooling centers that have been designated throughout the county. They would be available
seven days a week as drop-in centers to provide short term daytime respite for residents
during an excessive heat event. Cooling centers would be staffed with County personnel,
with assistance provided by the volunteer Medical Reserve Corps.
The determination to open a county cooling center will be based on an analysis of multiple
factors including:
• Temperature and humidity indices
Expected length time of heat event
Weather related emergency room visits and 911 call statistics
Thank you for joining us in assisting our elderly and at risk residents.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have or to offer your input and
suggestions.
incerely,
ohn A. Beale, Chairman
DC Cooling Centers
cc: Betsy Brockway — Health & Human Services Cabinet
Kenneth Davidson — Emergency Response
Scott Murphy -- Emergency Response
Dana Smith — Emergency Response
Adam Nowik, Jr. — Sheriffs Department
Joseph Beahan — Department of Public Works
Ron Roberts — Central Hudson
Carol Wanyo — Health Department
Beth Alter — Mental Hygiene
Esther Evans — NY Connects