Westport School Security Review To Include Town Hall

WESTPORT, Conn. – The security of Westport Town Hall is set to be reviewed after town and school officials agreed to include it as part of the planned school security audit, First Selectman Gordon Joseloff announced Wednesday afternoon.

Westport Town Hall will be included in the school security study to be conducted.
Photo Credit: *File: Vanessa Inzitari*

by Vanessa Inzitari

01/09/2013 4:30 p.m.

“Town Hall is home to the Board of Education offices as well as town offices and it is entirely appropriate that the building be included,” Joseloff said in a statement.

Joseloff’s announcement comes less than a week after a 55-year-old Wilton man was arrested at Town Hall for allegedly causing a scene in one of the offices. The man was charged with creating a public disturbance and criminal trespass.

The Board of Finance last week approved a request from the Board of Education for $50,000 to hire a security firm to analyze all eight of the town’s schools. The request was prompted in part by the mass shooting in Newtown last month.

Joseloff said Elaine Whitney, chairwoman of the education board, agreed to have town hall included in the audit as well. Joseloff also asked Police Chief Dale Call to arrange briefings for town employees at all locations on security precautions.

At Monday’s Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Elliott Landon announced the district has begun its search for a security firm to conduct the audit. The board will request reimbursement for the review from the Representative Town Meeting, the town’s legislative body, at its Feb. 5 meeting.

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