Byline: Elaine Thompson

SHREWSBURY - Residents whose heat has been turned off because of nonpayment and who don't have the means to have it turned back on are urged to call Town Manager Daniel J. Morgado.

The town is one of the first in the state to establish a task force to

Mr. Morgado last night gave the Board of Selectmen a briefing on a meeting that he and Selectman Benjamin W. Tartaglia attended in Marlboro last week. At that meeting, representatives of South Middlesex Opportunity Council urged the 37 communities it serves to set up task forces. They said this is the first time in that agency's three decades that such critical action is being taken.

Mr. Morgado said the initial thing that needs to be done is to help people whose heat was turned off in April or over the summer to pay the arrears and set up payment arrangements so heat can be resumed. His phone number is (508) 841-8504. SMOC also can negotiate bills with NSTAR.

"If they call, we'll try to get them lined up with some help," Mr. Morgado said.

The second plan of action is to try to get everyone eligible for fuel assistance through SMOC signed up as soon as possible. The application process will be made easier by the town's ability to process the application. At last week's meeting, David Harrison, director of SMOC's energy and fuel assistance division, said they are making the online service available to municipalities for the first time this year. He promised Shrewsbury would be the first to have access. The Council on Aging has already started signing up people who were eligible last year.

Mr. Morgado said towns are also going to write letters to state and federal legislators to lobby for fuel assistance. The federal government's proposal to increase the nationwide fuel assistance program from $3 billion last year to $9 billion is being held up in committee because of election-year politics, SMOC officials said. Republicans are holding up the legislation and President Bush has said he will veto it if it makes it through Congress because of some amendments. Mr. Harrison said he doesn't expect federal money to reach Massachusetts until mid-February.

Plans are also being developed to provide firefighters and police officers with information about how to give emergency assistance and guidance to families who run out of heat during the winter. SMOC recommended extending hours of senior centers to allow seniors to reduce their personal energy burden and to establish warming centers for families at area school gymnasiums, churches and hospitals. They also suggested that local communities and churches set up emergency funding pools to help residents.

Mr. Morgado said he would also like to hear from volunteers and groups, including Eagle Scouts, who would like to take on a project to help residents weatherize their homes. He said that service is no longer coupled with the fuel assistance program. Donations are also being sought.

"This is outside of the traditional mandate of local government. This is a new business for us," Mr. Morgado said. "We can only do what we can do. We're learning as we go along." The Board of Selectmen held its first meeting of its Home Heating Working Group in July. The group met with representatives of utilities, oil companies, human service agents and town, state and federal officials. The group was formed at the request of Mr. Tartaglia. He and Selectman John I. Lebeaux are co-chairmen of the Home Heating Working Group. The next meeting is at 10 a.m. Oct. 2.

"It's going to take more than government to solve this problem. People are going to have to help their friends and neighbors," Mr. Lebeaux said.

NAME: SHREWSBURY SELECTMEN