Have an item you want to get out in the open? Afraid to publish due to the backlash?
Not to worry, drop us a line and we will be glad to investigate and follow up. We don't mind!
Send stories, comments or leads to: blog-Millville
We want new toys...
Submitted by MJB on November 18, 2008 - 22:24.
General | Real Issues
Spend, Spend, Spend..
It is really amazing the information you find when you take the time to read the minutes to the BOS meetings.
Since the middle part of September, all the news outlets have been reporting on this "economic" slowdown. This global credit crisis that has been affecting "Main St" and "Wall St" for the past 60 days or so.
We have seen the Commonwealth slash a thousand jobs and a billion dollars from the 2009 Fiscal Budget. It is well known that there will probably be more cuts after the 1st of the year.
Housing values have fallen in excess of 20% year over year since 2007. Foreclosures are on the rise. We wonder how well the tax collections are going now that the second quarter was due on 11/1. A neighboring town is reporting a 93% collection rate down from 98% a year ago.
From reading the minutes however, one would realize that Millville must be immune from this crisis:
Take a look:
Spend, Spend, Spend..
Now for the past two and a half years, we here at blogMillville has been very critical of certain members of the BOS. However, to be fair, we are glad to see the two senior members vote no on this article submission at this time.
While we certainly support public safety. The economic uncertainty means everyone has to be wary of capital expenses. This is not the time for the Town to be spending funds it does not have. Operationally, the budget will be challenging in FY10. We urge all the selectmen to really understand and investigate the need for this expense at this time.
Kudos to Mr. Savage and Petrowicz for their positions. While there is obvious a political slant to this vote, we hope all 5 selectmen, elected by the people will do the right thing for the whole town, not just certain special interests.
Instead of looking to add apparatus and increase costs, the BOS should be focusing on downsizing, merging and streamlining Town Government. This includes but is not limited to Public Safety Departments. If Millville is to survive, we need action rather than reaction. Old Boy and Girl networks need to be destroyed.
Don't wait too long to act. Millville's residents deserve the best effort of the entire board.
This is too big of a
Submitted by No-Way! (not verified) on November 21, 2008 - 16:44.
This is too big of a purchase to be made at a special town meeting. Historically we barely meet quorum, so 41 people will be deciding on this issue. Keep in mind that the Fire Department typically stacks the meeting when an item like this is on the warrant. So the likely hood of this passing is oh-so-real.
The BOS should not have allowed this, rookie mistake! Yes Paul and Tom deserve credit this one time.
I for one will be voting against such a large purchase to be purchased mid-year. I wonder, like the contributing author, how in such a turbulent time we as a town can make this type of purchase when we should be looking at ways to save money.
» reply | email this page
New Fire Truck in Millville
Submitted by Chuck Singleton (not verified) on November 19, 2008 - 13:07.
I have to say that this meeting had me a little confused on the issue of the New Fire Truck request.
For the first time in quite a while I was actually in agreement with a decision of Paul S. and Tom P.
I do not believe that this should have been on the December Warrant. I would have rather seen it on the Annual Town Warrant than the Special.
In fairness to the newer members of the BOS I believe that they were trying to save us some money by doing it now rather than later. Mrs. Lima was very clear in saying if we did not sign a contract for a new truck by 12/31/08 that we would lose a $30,000 discount on the truck. For that reason she wanted to get it on the warrant.
By making the motion and voting to pass it, does not mean that we are getting a new Truck. It means that it will go to the voters in December. We collectively will decide if we want to get the truck at this time or not. The people have the final say on this.
By voting to have a Bid Packet created the majority of the BOS are trying to save a little bit of money (I say little bit knowing full well how much that really is and how it could help the town, but small compared to the total cost of the truck - $350,000).
I mentioned that I was confused because I was told that with $12,000 to $15,000 worth of repairs the old truck could last another 3-5 years or more.
Chief Mulally is doing his job in notifying the town that there is a very old truck that needs to be replaced. He feels that the truck should be updated, and no one can fault him for that. The issue is whether the Town can afford a new truck or not. My understanding is that there is approximately $165,000 set aside already for this truck in Capital Planning. The balance of the Truck can and will be paid out of the Ambulance Receipt Fund. On this issue I seem to be teetering on the top of the fence. Since the Ambulance Receipt fund is generated by the Fire Dept. On one hand I think that the money should be used for the upgrade of the Fire Department gear and equipment, But on the Other hand, The town has often reached into the account to help offset costs for other town related expenses and this does not look likely to be a practice that will go away soon. I also agree that this should be done. It is a very fine line and I am not sure I am ready to decide which side of that line I want to be standing on.
I do not believe that Mrs. Lima, Mr. Poulin, or Mr. Laura did anything wrong or were trying to pull a fast one - they were merely trying to save us $30,000. They know that the Voters will have the last say. For that reason and that Reason alone I did not speak on this issue prior to this article being submitted. Normally I would have vocalized my discontent at a BOS meeting, but ultimately there was no harm in what was done. It was just a motion made to continue down the path of deciding what needs to be done.
My son was a volunteer fireman in Millville for a few years and is now working Fulltime in a nearby city. That being said, I certainly do not want any employee or volunteer in Millville to be working with faulty or hazardous equipment, but if it can be Repaired/Patched for much less than the cost of a new truck and move the need to purchase a new truck out a few years, that should be considered as well.
Chuck Singleton
» reply | email this page
Let's clear one issue up.
Submitted by webmaster on November 19, 2008 - 13:54.
Clarification:
The Ambulance Reseve Fund was created in 1987 when the first transporting Ambulance was placed into service at no cost to the taxpayers.
When the reserve account was created, it was made very clear by the action of the Town Meeting that the following strategy would be used:
- The Town would bill patients that used the ambulance with explicit notice that the person should submit the bill to their insurance company, or directly bill the insurance company.
- Any attempt to collect the fee from an individual would not see the indivdual hauled into small claims court, or chased for the balance that the insurance company did not cover.
- All funds secured in the Ambulance Revolving Account would be used for the sole purpose of financing replacement costs associated with the ambulance, and related equipment.
One will recall, several years ago the Fire Chief attempted to transfer funds from the account to purchase land in the Chestnut Hill section of town.
The Moderator ruled the motion out of order.
Several years later, at a special town meeting the town voted to allow "Fire related" expenses to come from the account. Motion passed by hand vote.
Mr. S. you are incorrect (to my knowledge) that the fund was used for "general expenses".
With what the Town is facing in the next fiscal year or two, they need to save their money, and not spend it on elaborate expensive solutions.
Check around the valley and see how other towns have gotten several more years of use from apparatus as they have refurbished them, and modernized them. Sure they are not new, but they still function, and perform the duties that they were purchased for. I suggest Mendon and Northbridge for starters.
» reply | email this page
Let's Clear one issue up ...Response
Submitted by Chuck Singleton (not verified) on November 19, 2008 - 18:04.
Mr. B. I was in a BOS meeting several weeks ago where this issue was brought up and voted to send out the BID packet. During that meeting a resident did say that there was money used from this account for other town expenses. Since reading your response I have placed a call to Helen Coffin and was told that no money has been taken from Ambulance Receipts for other town expenses since she has been on the job as Executive Secretary. I then placed a call to the resident who made the comment and I was told that he mispoke. It was not the Ambulance Receipt it was from Stabilization and Assesors Overlay.
I still question the comment "All funds secured in the Ambulance Revolving Account would be used for the sole purpose of financing replacement costs associated with the ambulance, and related equipment."
Is this part of a By-law? Is this how it was planned or how it is? I would think that there is a state law that would supercede the local law if that is the case. Honestly how can a town be told that they can not use money generated by Municipal Emplpoyees for anything other than one department.
» reply | email this page
This was a big issue with some at the time...
Submitted by webmaster on November 19, 2008 - 19:37.
The then BOS wanted to be sure that this fund, which is the receipts from the billing wouldn't be used for just anything. So the intent was to limit the way it could be spent.
Was it part of the vote? I am not sure, was it evident the intent of the voters to limit the fund in this way, absolutely.
I will venture into the archives for clarification.
As I said at one point the town opened up the fund for other fire related expenses, after considerable objection from certain members of the meeting members, since they had a clear understanding as to the parameters intended.
Unfortunately for Millville, most of those leaders are no longer active, or have gone to their reward. For those of us who still remain, we remember the details very well.
Mr. B.
» reply | email this page
Ambulance Receipt Funds
Submitted by Chuck Singleton (not verified) on November 20, 2008 - 09:08.
Mr. B. - As you know I am not a person who likes to misinform anyone and I really do try to get my facts before saying anything. The information that I received yesterday was not sitting well with me so I did more digging. In the 2007 Annual Town Budget book on page 34 you will note the following under Results of Annual Town meeting May 14, 2007 Article # 2- Grand Total for the
FY2008 Budget of $4,682,968.77 broken down as -
Taxation - $4,464,673.77
Free Cash - $ 80,000.00
Stabilization - $70,000.00
Title V Receipts Reserved - $20,395.00 AND
Ambulance Receipts Reserved - $47,900.00
So it does appear that money was taken from Ambulance Receipt to balance the Fiscal Year Budget, Unless I am not understanding something here.
If I am missing something I look forward to being told what it is. I am always open to constructive criticism.
Chuck Singleton
» reply | email this page
Well I would have to say you
Submitted by webmaster on November 20, 2008 - 09:37.
Well I would have to say you are right, but the expert in this would be the ExecSec, or perhaps the Town Accountant.
Could it be they used funds to offset the F/T or P/T salaries for Fire/Rescue? I know that Uxbridge funds some of their salaries through their Ambulance account.
Mr B.
» reply | email this page
Ambulance Receipt to balance budget...
Submitted by Chuck Singleton (not verified) on November 20, 2008 - 11:16.
I just spoke to Helen Coffin again and was told that this money - although it was used to balance the budget -was used for the Fire Department budget. My apologies for misquoting Helen Coffin.
I will dig deeper to find out the legality of this money only being used for the Fire Department line items, and not any other department.
Chuck Singleton
» reply | email this page
A M B U L A N C E - FUNDS
Submitted by Forest Burns (not verified) on November 20, 2008 - 19:40.
A statement was made at the recent "all boards/depts" meeting that funds had been withdrawn from the ambulance reserve to cover the balance due on snow/ice.
» reply | email this page
Missing the point
It seems to me that we are all missing the point on this one. We should be meeting with neighboring towns and seek to utilize their services (on a call based fee structure)instead of buying a new truck. The town could easily pay $500/call to have Blackstone, Uxbridge, Mendon or N. Smithfield show up with their expensive truck when required. There haven't been many (if any) structure fires in town in the last few years. As home inspections, fire prevention etc. improve house fires will continue to decrease. Millville, by its shear geographic size, could be served easily by any of the aforementioned communities. Let's save money now while we can. It seems that the last rescue was put out to pasture and Mendon fixed it and got a few more years of good service out of it. Maybe the Chief could try that. Go figure.
On another note I was very disappointed in the three new members of the BOS. It seems to me that they are being penny wise and pound foolish.