The Sharon Town Offices will continue housing residents temporarily during severe storms and other emergencies until Sharon opens a designated shelter, Fire Chief James Wright said today.

Sharon's Local Emergency Planning Committee discussed such topics this morning.

The town hall will remain an option for residents whose homes are damaged, for example, during emergencies and who cannot find temporary housing elsewhere, such as with relatives or friends, Wright said.

The timetable is between an emergency's start and Sharon opening a community shelter, he said.

Civil Defense Director Michael Polimer called the town hall "ideal" for such use.

"It's adjacent to the firehouse. You guys are always there. You have EMTs always there," Polimer said.

Today's meeting was attended by representatives from the fire, police, public works, civil defense, health and school departments, as well as the Council on Aging. Selectman Walter "Joe" Roach Jr. also attended.

During the Halloween weekend snowstorm aftermath, the Sharon Housing Authority clubhouse was initially designated a warming center. The warming center then moved to the Sharon Public Library's Cynthia B. Fox Community Room. The Sharon High School media center also was used for such a purpose.

Town officials are eyeing Sharon High and the Sharon Community Center as shelter options.

Polimer said officials have asked the capital outlay committee to support spending $25,000 "to do something" with the community center.

Officials also have asked for funding for a generator for the housing authority clubhouse, he said.

The emergency committee also discussed developing a community information booklet, and a vulnerable population phone tree, and providing transportation to shelters during emergencies.