Mutual Aid for Public Works

Mutual aid for public works will soon be a reality. Since the beginning of this year, at least two situations have occurred where mutual aid would have been helpful: the ice storms in January and the flooding shortly after.

A mutual aid committee has formed to create a program for public works. Currently, the agreement that provides for mutual aid is at the Attorney General’s office awaiting approval. After it is approved by the Attorney General, the mutual aid agreement form will be mailed to municipalities.

The plan for mutual aid is similar to that of the fire and police departments however, a Public Works mutual aid agreement must be different for two reasons.

• Public Works disasters are geographically located, assistance most often would come from farther than the next community.
• Public Works Departments are rarely staffed 24 hours a day.

These differences make a public works mutual aid agreement more complicated than the fire and police department programs. With police and fire, municipal assistance occurs frequently and municipalities are certain they will receive aid as often as they provide aid. This probably will not be true for public works.

History of Mutual Aid in NH

The idea of mutual aid for public works was developed by Chum Cleverly, Public Works Director in Bow and a Master Road Scholar. He developed a structure for how the plan would work a year and a half ago (see Road Business, Spring 1997). Since the inception of his idea, he has gotten others to see the benefits of such a plan.

In February a committee formed to take Chum’s vision out of the idea phase and implement it. The committee is represented by 3 road agents: Brian Barden, Richard Lee, and Kevin McKinnon and 3 public works directors: Mike Bobinsky, Chum Cleverly, and John Starkey. Also, serving on the committee are: Heather Anderson and John Andrews, New Hampshire Municipal Association; Gregg Champlain and Woodbury Fogg, Office of Emergency Management: Kathy DesRoches, UNH T² Center; Ed Kyle, NHDOT; Timothy Russell, Police Chief, Town of Henniker; David Stack, Town Administrator Pembroke; and Dick Wright, Chief Coordinator Capital Area Fire Compact. These committee members were chosen for specific areas of expertise and are all highly supportive of the plan.

A Summary of the Plan

The committee used Chum’s vision for what mutual aid should entail. Below is a brief overview of the plan.

1. A road agent or public works director determines they have an emergency.
2. They use a resource list, compiled by the UNH T² Center, to call any participating community they believe can offer the assistance they require.
3. The community that is called determines if they can provide the assistance.
1. If they can, the provider sends equipment and personnel agreed upon and a person to act as a supervisor. The responding town must document all assistance given to the town, (hours worked, equipment used, supplies, etc…).
2. If they can not provide assistance, then the Road Agent or Public Works Director of community is distress calls another town.

Mutual Aid Agreement

The initial package sent along to towns with the agreement there will include an equipment and personnel inventory form.

The UNH T2 Center will rely on the inventory form compile a complete listing of equipment and personnel available to call upon. Accurate completion of the form is necessary to ensure the program is successful. Each municipality that participates will receive a complete listing of all equipment and personnel available in the other participating municipalities.

The UNH T² Center will conduct orientation in the fall for the mutual aid program. For further information, contact the UNH T² Center.

Return to UNH T2 Center, 33 College Road, Durham NH 03824 603-862-2826 Fax 603-862-2364