Dumbfounded! #1

Beginning today at 10 AM, the Middleboro Board of Selectmen began interviewing candidates for the position of Fire Chief. I remained for 4 of the 5 interviews and must commend the selection committee for the process of presenting candidates with impressive credentials, solid backgrounds and wide experience. No videotape recording was made of the interviews. No reporters were present. And it was, once again clear, that no BOS member had taken the time to conduct their due diligence or a google search.

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One of the common threads of the first 3 candidates was their incorporation of 'volunteers,' auxiliary firefighters, part-timers or 'call' firefighters (the terms, pay rates and responsibilities varied by town/state/location) into their daily operations to reduce costs, manpower and provide flexibility in manning.

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One candidate established a policy in which the 'part timers' manned fire stations for a mandatory period.

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In other words, if Middleboro increased the size of its 'call' fire department, worked to train that staff, it has the potential to provide the flexibility to man all three fire stations and keep them open on a permanent basis.

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Except that it clearly indicated that not one of the candidates had been provided with a copy of the appropriate fire contracts which prohibits implementation of such a practice. Ooops!

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In fairness, it should be noted that of the 4 candidates I watched, each had been provided with copies of the Matrix report that evaluated the establishment of a town-run ambulance service. And each of those 4 candidates defended the advantages of such a service even though it would cost the town more than the current AMR contract. Of those advantages, was: 1. familiarity with the locations, but that made the assumption of high turnover rates with the outside contractor. AMR has been stable in personnel from the occasions we've used the services 2. familiarity with 'frequent fliers,' those with chronic problems requiring frequent emergency services. Sorry! But several 'frequent fliers' have highly praised AMR's provisions to address such needs and it seems exceptional.

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The importance of appropriate dispatching was addressed and the general impression gathered was the importance of sending the proper vehicle/responder to address the problem which might be the closest unit initially, to be subsequently backed up with a transport to the hospital by AMR. At which point, the initial responder would depart the scene.

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None of the candidates indicated that it was appropriate to respond with the 4 emergency vehicles that appears to be Middleboro's current policy. Maybe they were unaware. Maybe the search committee was unaware.

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From their comments, it was also clear that they were totally unfamiliar with the IGA (the Inter- Governmental Agreement) that the Town of Middleboro had signed with the Mashpee Wamponaog to build a mega-casino complex, in terms of the public safety and ambulance service that contains provision for just those issues.

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On Page 3 of the IGA:

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Section 4. Mitigation Measures.
The Parties agree that the Local Impact Payments to be made pursuant to Section
5 are made in lieu of all taxes and other assessments otherwise due to the Town of
Middleborough and/or the Town’s departments, boards or commissions including, but not
limited to, its school district and police and fire departments.

In conjunction with the
measures set forth herein, the Payments constitute the Tribe’s mitigation efforts and are in full and complete satisfaction of all local government impacts whether or not identified in this Agreement.

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B. Pre-opening Mitigation – Police, Firefighting and Emergency Medical
Services.
The Tribe agrees to buy two police cruisers and two advanced life support
("ALS") ambulances, and pay for the training, salaries and benefits of eight police
officers and 16 firefighters/emergency medical technicians. Based on current salary
levels and costs of vehicles, the Town's estimated cost is $2,005,000.
The lead time for hiring and training the police officers is 12 months and
the Tribe agrees to fund the hiring of these officers so that they will be trained and on
duty as of the first day of commercial operations at the Project, unless the Parties by
separate agreement establish an earlier schedule. The Tribe's obligation to fund the
police units, including salaries and benefits, shall terminate on the first day of
commercial operations at the Project.

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Page 4

The lead time for hiring and training paramedics/firefighters is 12 months
and the Tribe agrees to fund the hiring of these officers so that they will be trained and on
duty as of the first day of commercial operations at the Project, unless the Parties by
separate agreement establish an earlier schedule to provide Emergency Medical Services
("EMS") during Project construction. The Tribe's obligation to fund EMS, including
salaries and benefits, shall terminate as of the first day of commercial operations at the
Project or when the operation becomes self-sustaining, whichever is earlier.
The Parties have discussed operating EMS through some form of joint
venture between the Tribe and the Town, but have not reviewed applicable law, existing
contracts or feasibility. Accordingly, the Parties agree to meet and negotiate in good faith
a supplemental agreement regarding the joint venture.

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One candidate indicated that he had applied for and received a grant for a $600,000 ladder truck. Oh, how timely! Wasn't a question asked at ATM about whether grants had been considered and applied for?

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At ATM, I asked whether consideration had been given by the Finance Committee for a Prop 2 1/2 Capital Exclusion override that would have been a one shot deal, maybe $100 per homeowner for one year to pay the cost of a ladder truck in full instead of bonding. Because the article was petitioned by the fire department, no consideration was given.

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Instead of working with the financial officers of the town to accomplish the most sensible method of purchasing a ladder truck for the town, or even doing their own research into alternatives, the ladder truck was bonded, adding to the town's indebtedness.

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My question regarding debt exclusion arouse from articles such as the following (there are others):

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Sunday, March 23, 2008
Duxbury: Prop 2 1/2 Override
The following Boston Globe article represents the recent experience in Duxbury at attempts to pass a Prop 2 1/2 override. You will note that the portion that passed was the Capital Exclusion:.Duxbury voters reject one override, pass two others.
The measure was a capital exclusion tax override, meaning that the increased spending will be added to the tax levy for one year only. The projected tax increase from the new equipment is expected to add $108 to the average homeowner tax bill of $641,300, according to finance director John Madden. BostonGlobe
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There is no one in Middleboro who would argue that a response time by the ambulance service or the fire department of 12 minutes to South Middleboro is unacceptable. But might we argue that a grant for the ladder truck might have helped alter the town's fiscal situation?

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More will follow as time permits.