Friday, March 1, 2013
City Councilor Jonathan Weydt's colorful commentary on the city's response to the snowstorm in his ward tops the list.
The biggest story of February was the snowstorm that dropped more than two feet of snow on Attleboro. So, it is not surprising that six of the 10 most-viewed stories during the month involved the Blizzard of '13. Topping the list was the colorful commentary caught on video of City Councilor Jonathan Weydt. After Councilor Peter Blais thanked the city workers for their effort, an irate Weydt who believed commentary on the quality of the work—positive or negative—was not allowed spoke about the tale of the blizzard from the Ward 4 point of view. Others on the council tried to silence him. It was an intense situation. 1. Councilor Rips City's Handling of Storm Recovery, Feb. 13 2. Pedestrian Struck by Suspected Drunk Driver, Feb. 16 3. Woman …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Not enough assets were sent to Ward 4. We needed more help than other parts of the city due to the power outage.
Ward 4 City Councilor Jonathan Weydt submitted the following to Attleboro Patch after the Tuesday council meeting. Go here to see a video of what Weydt said during the meeting. We had several issues in Ward 4 during and in the aftermath of the snowstorm. We didn't fare as well as others. There was a National Grid power outage from Friday at 9 p.m. to Sunday at 6 p.m. (70 hours). An evacuation of a senior couple took over 10 hours to coordinate. Streets remained unplowed into Saturday night. Among them were Chartley Brook Lane, Beverly Circle, Thayer Farm Road and Pocahontas Lane. My concern is that not enough assets were sent to Ward 4. We needed more help than other parts of the city due to the power outage. I think we should have been a …
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Mayor Kevin Dumas and councilors say they hope at least some of the cost will be reimbursed by the state.
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Wednesday, February 13
Blizzards don't come cheap. The one that slammed the region this past weekend cost Attleboro at least $311,000, Mayor Kevin Dumas told the City Council Tuesday. The preliminary total includes $122,000 in overtime pay to city employees and $186,000 for the use of private snowplow workers. The final total will be higher, as Dumas said the amount presented to the council was "specifically for the things that we know that can be categorized." Dumas and city councilors said they hope the state will reimburse the city for the cost of the cleanup effort, or at least some of it. The request will be made, but Dumas said there is no guarantee it will be honored.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Light, fluffy snow on rooftops can act as a sponge for rain, which is in the forecast for Monday. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency offers these tips.
With rain in Attleboro's forecast for Monday, the Blizzard of '13 may not be finished wreaking havoc in Massachusetts. While temperatures dropped overnight Friday resulting in light, fluffy snow, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) warns that fluffy snow piled high on roofs can act as a sponge, absorbing rain and adding additional stress to structures. Relatively flat roofs are particularly vulnerable, MEMA says. In other cases, roof ice dams have formed causing water build-up, leading to interior damage. These conditions can accelerate the snowmelt. To minimize the risk of over-stressing a building roof due to accumulated or drifting snow: Information from a release by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) …
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Do you agree with the governor's decision or was it too drastic?
All non-emergency drivers were ordered off the roads on Friday when Gov. Deval Patrick issued an executive order banning travel during the blizzard. (Editor's note: The ban is lifted statewide as of 4 p.m. Saturday.) Patrick's executive order is being praised by some and bashed by others, reported The Boston Globe. While former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, who was in charge of the commonwealth during the Blizzard of ’78, praised the governor’s move, others called the order “tyrannical” and say the strict ban and hefty fines were too much, according to The Globe. Those caught violating the ban would face up to a year in jail and a $500 fine. What do you think? Do you agree with the governor’s decision or do you think the travel ban …
Friday, February 8, 2013
Let's measure the blizzard through lawn ornaments!
We at Patch like to have fun – even when we’re covering a story as big as the Blizzard of ’13! So when the biggest storm in years (potentially in the history of Boston weather) is headed our way, we get into battle mode – and even get a little silly. That’s what this idea is about – and we want you to take part too! A fun way we want to track the storm across Massachusetts is through lawn ornaments. They serve a purpose in the spring and summer, but often feel left out in the cold of winter. Not anymore. We are posting photos of lawn ornaments throughout Massachusetts to highlight snowfall across the commonwealth during and after the storm. All you need to do is hit the Upload Photos and Videos button and upload your own. If we’re stuck at…
Jerry Chase
3:38 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Jonathan Weydt's performance is professional and top-notch, as I would expect from a classy guy, with a successful business. He is a great credit to the City. He does the job for Ward Four like very few other councilors that I've ever witnessed. more ›