By Seth Daniel
The scenario sounds like it could be the setup to a joke, but Monday evening brought the real thing when four people—a councillor, a reverend, a Republican and a clerk with elevator anxiety—found themselves trapped for 45-minutes in the City Hall elevator.
“We were cool; no one freaked out,” said Rev. Sandra Whitley, who was among those stuck alongside Planning Board member Todd Taylor (the Republican), Councillor Leo Robinson and Council Administrative Assistant Ledia Koco. “These firefighters are amazing and they need all the credit. Stuck for almost 45 minutes, they kept asking if we were alright, plugging away until they had to almost blast the metal doors apart.”
The rescue operation involved firefighters Capt. Paul Doherty, Mark Chiaradonna, Gary Poulin, Angel Arrieta, Kevin DeJesus and Lt. Andrew Cerratani.
The incident occurred Monday following the conclusion of the Council meeting. Because City Hall’s stairs were undergoing replacement work, residents needed to rely on the elevator for descent. The aging lift was working overtime, and when these four passengers boarded and the doors closed, the elevator simply stopped moving.
Recognition that they were trapped took a moment, but fortunately others remained in the building and heard their calls for assistance.
Chelsea Fire Department was summoned, and City Manager Tom Ambrosino guided them to the suspected location of the stranded four.
Initial attempts by firefighters to force the elevator doors open proved unsuccessful.
Additional equipment became necessary, and firefighters brought in an inflatable air bag to help force the doors apart.
After the effort succeeded, all four occupants exited the elevator safely.
“I was just glad those other three were with me, because these days, if it were just me, they might have left me in there,” joked Taylor.