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