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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-10-17 Municipal Operations Committee Minutes 11/ Municipal Operations Committee October 17, 1995 Minutes Councilors Present: Councilors Blanchette, Popper, Soucy Staff Present: Chief Foley, Ed Barrett, Bob Farrar, Brad Moore, Russ McKenna, Gail Campbell, Mary-Anne Chalila 1 . Fire Department Update-EMS. Fire Chief Foley updated the Committee on the Department' s Emergency Medical Services. Bangor Fire has started to operate two ambulances on a trial basis . The trial basis is to find out how much need there is, the cost and revenues available. Emergency calls accounts for 14% of the department' s time. Several hundred of these calls are "overflow" and are referred to Capital Ambulance annually. The Chief indicated that Capital is obviously concerned about the City operating two ambulances. Councilor Blanchette has received complaints from citizens who receive double-billing due to the Fire Department arriving on the scene and then Capital transporting the • person to the hospital . The Chief indicated that the department at some point may focus on the First Responder Program with Capital Ambulance providing transportation to hospitals. Councilor Soucy indicated that not only should the City be looking at the possibility of additional income but the service provided to the citizens of Bangor. The Department currently bills more than $200, 000 in services and the Chief indicated he felt that could easily double. The Department answered thirteen more EMS calls during the past two weeks due to the additional of the second ambulance. Discussion continued on the cost of equipment, such as another ambulance, if the City were to continue the current level of service. The City Manager urged the Committee to keep in mind that we do not yet know the full implications thus the test of running 2 ambulances . He also brought to the Committee' s attention the future of health care and the possibility of entering into a managed care situation with Medicare, Medicaid or with private providers might put the City in a position where a third party decides who provides the service. Also to be considered are the medical facilities in the City. Some of these decisions may at some point be actually taken out of the City' s hands . • In response to Councilor Soucy' s inquiry, staff indicated that there was not a large amount in the reserve fund for replacement equipment purchases. The reserve Has to be a part of the entire program. Chief Foley indicated that this was merely an update to the Committee and that he was not requesting action on their part . 2 . Council Order 95-431 Amending Chapter II, Article 29 of the Laws and Ordinances - Board of Registration. The Committee recommended approval of this Council Order which formally put into the City' s Ordinances the Board of Registration which reflects the changes in state law. 3. Council Ordinance 95-432 Amending Chapter II , Article 21 of the Laws and Ordinances - Public Health and Welfare. Mary-Anne Chalila, Director of Health and Welfare, indicated that this item is to incorporate into the City' s ordinances the annual update of the maximum limits for general assistance based upon the HUD formula for fair market rents . The Committee recommended approval. 411 4 . Sewer Abatement Request Mr. and Mrs. Sands were notified of the meeting but did not attend the meeting. Moore has been working with Mr. Sands on this request for an abatement for water used this year. Moore indicated to the Sands that this would not be an acceptable abatement. The Sands wished to appeal this to the Committee. Popper indicated that the policy of this committee is that outside landscaping waterings do not meet the criteria for an abatement. Given the fact that the Ordinance is passed, this issue has been addressed, submeters can be installed, and Councilor Popper moved to deny the abatement. Seconded by Councilor Soucy. 411