Town Manager Praises Proactive Roof Efforts

Mansfield Town Manager William Ross commended the Town Building Department and the Fire Department staff at last week’s selectmen’s meeting for outreach to building owners in the industrial park.

 In a phone interview last week with Mansfield Patch, Fire Chief Neal Boldrighini stated that proactive measures throughout town enabled Mansfield to avert the roof cave ins many surrounding areas experienced. The biggest threat was at Smith and Nephew, where the weight of the snow caused a gas line crack. Boldrighini said the Smith and Nephew’s roof had “heavy deflection” and praised the company for their speedy efforts. He said the company shut down for 24 hours and worked round-the-clock to save the roof and replace the gas line. “It is a big deal for a company in the park that operates 24/7 (to shut down like that),” said Boldrighini.

 Ross said the fire and building departments worked tirelessly, urging businesses to get snow off the flat roofs before leaks or cave-ins could occur. "This type of winter will find the weak points in any building,” said Ross.

 Ross wryly noted the flat roofed highway garage on East Street was no problem because the insulation in the building is so bad all the snow melted off the top right away. But he added just down the street, concerns at the Robinson School were serious enough to warrant immediate help, and workers hauled a snow blower up to the roof to help alleviate the weight of the snow.

An unoccupied Quonset hut collapsed on the grounds of the Mansfield Fish and Game Association, as well.

 As the weather warms over the next few days, flooding and leaks will be the new challenges faced by homeowners and the town departments.