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Honored
Scott Belleville, second from right, was named Emergency Manager of the Year for the state of Connecticut last week. From left: Mayor Barney Seney, William Turner, the state's director of Emergency Management; Belleville and Putnam Town Administrator Elaine Sistare. Linda Lemmon photo.
Belleville Named Emergency Manager of the Year - for the state
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
Derek N. May, emergency management director for the town of Pomfret, said it best in his nomination of Putnam’s Scott Belleville for the state Emergency Manager of the Year Award: “Scott is conspicuous not only for the good work he does within his own town, but because he continually goes above and beyond to advance EM collaboration and communication between all the town of Region 4 (eastern Connecticut).
The Nov. 14 CT Department of Emergency Management & Homeland Security - Region 4 annual meeting began with Belleville receiving the 2023 Emergency Manager of the Year Award.
William H. Turner, Connecticut’s Emergency Management director, presented Belleville with the award saying his leadership is amazing.
Turner read May’s nomination bullet points including his support of COVID 19 PPE and test kit distribution, supporting local multi-town veterans’ group in public food distribution events, serving as Region 4 Incident Management Team, serving as co-chair of Region 4 ESF (emergency support function) 5 Emergency Management, supporting the CT Region 4 Regional Emergency Planning Team, maintaining Region 4 emergency management assets. Belleville also led discussions to restart the long-dormant northeast CT CERT program, May said.
Region 4 consists of 42 towns and the two Tribal Nations in eastern Connecticut.
All this while maintaining his “day job” as a Norwich firefighter officer, the Putnam fire marshal and serving on a regional hazmat team.
In honoring Belleville Mayor Barney Seney, a retired Connecticut state trooper, was proud of Belleville. The town didn’t have emergency plans before for events, etc. “and now we have emergency plans for everything”.
He added, “Scott is one hell of a leader.”
Town Administrator Elaine Sistare recounted how hard he works and how well he works with all departments and how many times Belleville has said how much he enjoys giving back to the community.
In accepting the award Belleville said “Someone once said ‘you can’t save the world’ and that struck a chord with me.” He has ideas and initiatives in his head and with the support of all those around him, he strives to help the world.
He doesn’t sit still. Currently he’s planning to continue getting more Utility Task Vehicles for Region 4. “The region has purchased two so far with the first one hosted by Putnam. I’d love to have 6 spread out over Region 4.” Most of the equipment is funded by FEMA grants.
Asked what appealed to him, he said: “I like the incident management aspect. Being part of a team who plans and organizes an event or major incident.
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From left: Scott Belleville with his award; daughters Brooklyn and Kayleigh Belleville, wife Lindsay Rhodes and William Turner - State of CT Emergency Management director. Photo by Linda Lemmon.
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