MONSON — During the Sept. 24 Select Board meeting, Police Chief Stephen Kozloski and Fire Chief Brian Harris brought forward concerns on how the town’s Code Red subscription should be used moving forward.
Code Red is an alert system used by the town of Monson for emergency and general messages, Kozloski explained. The system allows residents to choose how they want to receive messages: either by text, phone call, app notification or email; while Kozloski as the town operator chooses whether the message is marked as emergency or general, he said. There is also a deaf and hard of hearing option.
Monson has been utilizing the Code Red system for eight years after the former town administrator suggested Monson purchase a townwide notification program following the 2011 tornado, Kozloski said. The town pays for use of the system at $8,200 a year.
Approximately 6,000 residents are subscribed to Code Red, Harris estimated.
While some residents support use of the Code Red system for both emergency and general messages, others have raised concerns over whether messages are sent too often, Kozloski stated. He explained that general messages are brought to him by town departments. There is no regular schedule of messages.
“I think probably partially because of the politically charged climate right now, there was a message that went out about a change in polling locations from Memorial Hall to the [Quarry Hill] school and that prompted some discussion [among residents],” Kozloski said.
He explained to the Select Board that the departments were seeking “some direction” on how to proceed with use of the system. Currently there is no town policy on usage of the system.
“There’s a split with people that want it more [and] people that want it less,” Kozloski said. He went on to note that there was a charge when residents who have enabled the phone notification option receive general messages, stating that the departments were considering no longer enabling this option to prevent this cost. He encouraged residents to utilize an alternative option if possible.
While all residents who sign up for Code Red receive emergency messages, residents can decide whether to subscribe to general messages, Kozloski stated. He confirmed that the School Department is not a part of Code Red and utilizes its own notification system.
During discussion, Select Board member Patricia Oney said that the system should be used for more than emergency messages, noting the benefit of a townwide notification system. Alternatively, Select Board chair John Morrell stated that the method of receiving messages could “panic” residents into thinking it is an emergency when receiving general messages.
“Education I think is important,” Kozloski emphasized, stating that residents should understand that they have the choice on whether they receive general messages as well as how they receive messages.
Residents can modify their notification options and find more information about the Code Red system at onsolve.com/platform-products/critical-communications/codered-public-alerting, Kozloski stated.
Options can also be changed in each resident’s profile, Select Board member Peter Warren said.
Ultimately, the board decided to authorize the departments to continue as operators of the system and use their “own judgement” on what messages should qualify as general messages for the town, as stated by Morrell.
