Monday, March 16, 2009
"Route 47 might become "Preservation Road""
Judge said, "People love to use it and sometimes go out of their way to use it because it's scenic," he said. "Some parts of it haven't changed in a long time."
"Judge said he favors using public money for the local match to access the federal dollars..."The presence of open space is important to the people of South Hadley," he said.
"People are concerned about open space being turned into housing or other uses. We know there's continued development pressure, but we want to manage that and make conscious decisions about growth and not have it happen in a haphazard way."
Friday, March 13, 2009
South Hadley gets out of ambulance business
South Hadley gets out of ambulance business
by steve
SOUTH HADLEY - The town will stop coordinating ambulance service at the start of the next fiscal year, turning the duties over to Fire District 1.
The move comes one year ahead of the deadline the Selectboard set for itself last year when it voted to begin divesting from the ambulance service. Ambulances operated by Fire District 1 will serve the entire town, including residents in Fire District 2, in the northern half of the town.
The 3-2 vote by the board last week came as it considered a budget for the ambulance department for fiscal 2010, which begins July 1. Interim Town Administrator Barry Del Castilho said the financial impact of maintaining the town's ambulance service would be about the same as if it was discontinued.
Currently, in an arrangement agreed upon last year to by the three governmental entities (the town, Fire District 1 and Fire District 2), District 1 operates an advanced life support-rated ambulance dispatched by the Police Department. It responds to calls requiring paramedic level services throughout the town and bills patients and insurance companies directly. District 1 pays the town for dispatching services.
A town-owned ambulance operated by Fire District 2, supplemented with police officers serving as the second emergency medical technician, provides basic life support and responds primarily to calls within its district. The town bills for the services and pays District 2 for EMT services based on the number of calls. That service is overseen by co-ambulance directors, David Keefe, fire chief in District 2 and Kurt Schenker, ambulance director for District 1.
Eliminating town participation will effectively remove the ambulance from District 2. District 1 plans to have a second ambulance on the road by July 1, staffed by a mix of basic EMTs and paramedics.
The debate among Selectboard members centered on whether having the town maintain its service and whether the two fire districts should be given more time to reach an agreement on sharing the services.
"It's best for all residents of town," said Selectboard member Gregory Sheehan, of letting District 1 take over. "It provides an advanced level of service to all residents with no increase in taxes."
Board Chairwoman Carlene Hamlin agreed, saying the service offered by District 1 is better for patients. Not having police officers called from their duties to provide ambulance service would help public safety from that direction, she said.
Board member John Hine said patient care would be better if the current arrangement were left in place.
"I happen to live in District 1, so I guess it doesn't matter to me, but if I lived in District 2, I would be a little concerned," he said. The response time for an ambulance from District 1 will be longer for residents in the northern end of town if the ambulance is removed from the District 2 station, he said.
Keefe said that discontinuing the town's participation would remove 14 EMTs (10 police officers and four District 2 EMTs) from the town's ambulance corps. Keefe asked for one more year before the handover of responsibilities.
Hamlin, a District 2 resident, said response times from District 2 headquarters will be well within state standards. But Hine said the town has set a better standard for itself, which would be compromised.
The town, said Selectboard member Robert Judge, should continue to run its ambulance service for the coming fiscal year, giving the two districts more time to work come to an agreement on sharing ambulance duties.
But Hamlin said talks between the two districts have broken down, which a member from each of the prudential committees for the districts confirmed. She blamed District 2, calling its consideration of establishing its own ambulance service divisive and unproductive.
"The tax rate would escalate" for District 2, she said.
Board member Marilyn Ishler gave a verbal lashing to the prudential committees, which she said stand in the way of having one ambulance service for the town.
"I would like to tell the boards to grow up and work together," but she doubts that will happen, Ishler said, because there are stubborn people on both sides. "I question whether the prudential boards work for even their whole districts but for themselves," she said.
Ishler, Sheehan and Hamlin voted for eliminating the town ambulance service. Hine and Judge voted against.
by steve
SOUTH HADLEY - The town will stop coordinating ambulance service at the start of the next fiscal year, turning the duties over to Fire District 1.
The move comes one year ahead of the deadline the Selectboard set for itself last year when it voted to begin divesting from the ambulance service. Ambulances operated by Fire District 1 will serve the entire town, including residents in Fire District 2, in the northern half of the town.
The 3-2 vote by the board last week came as it considered a budget for the ambulance department for fiscal 2010, which begins July 1. Interim Town Administrator Barry Del Castilho said the financial impact of maintaining the town's ambulance service would be about the same as if it was discontinued.
Currently, in an arrangement agreed upon last year to by the three governmental entities (the town, Fire District 1 and Fire District 2), District 1 operates an advanced life support-rated ambulance dispatched by the Police Department. It responds to calls requiring paramedic level services throughout the town and bills patients and insurance companies directly. District 1 pays the town for dispatching services.
A town-owned ambulance operated by Fire District 2, supplemented with police officers serving as the second emergency medical technician, provides basic life support and responds primarily to calls within its district. The town bills for the services and pays District 2 for EMT services based on the number of calls. That service is overseen by co-ambulance directors, David Keefe, fire chief in District 2 and Kurt Schenker, ambulance director for District 1.
Eliminating town participation will effectively remove the ambulance from District 2. District 1 plans to have a second ambulance on the road by July 1, staffed by a mix of basic EMTs and paramedics.
The debate among Selectboard members centered on whether having the town maintain its service and whether the two fire districts should be given more time to reach an agreement on sharing the services.
"It's best for all residents of town," said Selectboard member Gregory Sheehan, of letting District 1 take over. "It provides an advanced level of service to all residents with no increase in taxes."
Board Chairwoman Carlene Hamlin agreed, saying the service offered by District 1 is better for patients. Not having police officers called from their duties to provide ambulance service would help public safety from that direction, she said.
Board member John Hine said patient care would be better if the current arrangement were left in place.
"I happen to live in District 1, so I guess it doesn't matter to me, but if I lived in District 2, I would be a little concerned," he said. The response time for an ambulance from District 1 will be longer for residents in the northern end of town if the ambulance is removed from the District 2 station, he said.
Keefe said that discontinuing the town's participation would remove 14 EMTs (10 police officers and four District 2 EMTs) from the town's ambulance corps. Keefe asked for one more year before the handover of responsibilities.
Hamlin, a District 2 resident, said response times from District 2 headquarters will be well within state standards. But Hine said the town has set a better standard for itself, which would be compromised.
The town, said Selectboard member Robert Judge, should continue to run its ambulance service for the coming fiscal year, giving the two districts more time to work come to an agreement on sharing ambulance duties.
But Hamlin said talks between the two districts have broken down, which a member from each of the prudential committees for the districts confirmed. She blamed District 2, calling its consideration of establishing its own ambulance service divisive and unproductive.
"The tax rate would escalate" for District 2, she said.
Board member Marilyn Ishler gave a verbal lashing to the prudential committees, which she said stand in the way of having one ambulance service for the town.
"I would like to tell the boards to grow up and work together," but she doubts that will happen, Ishler said, because there are stubborn people on both sides. "I question whether the prudential boards work for even their whole districts but for themselves," she said.
Ishler, Sheehan and Hamlin voted for eliminating the town ambulance service. Hine and Judge voted against.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
South Hadley to vote on whether to merge town's 2 fire districts
South Hadley to vote on whether to merge town's 2 fire districts
by The Republican Newsroom
Tuesday March 03, 2009, 6:00 PM
By SANDRA E. CONSTANTINE
sconstantine@repub.com
SOUTH HADLEY - Terrance B. Sugrue and his group Citizens to Unite South Hadley moved a step closer to getting a merger of the town's two fire districts Monday when the Select Board voted 4-1 to put a nonbinding question on the matter on the ballot for the April 6 town election.
The Select Board put the matter to a vote after about 20 minutes of discussion during a special session called to deal with Sugrue's petition to put a question the ballot. Select Board member Marilyn G. Ishler made the motion, which was seconded by Selectman Robert G. Judge. Selectman Gregory R. Sheehan cast the lone dissenting vote.
Sheehan said the matter of a merger should be settled in the districts. The districts consist of Fire District 1, which provides fire protection and water for the southern part of the community, and Fire District 2, which provides those services to the northern part of town.
"We have as much jurisdiction (over the districts) as we do over the town of Amherst," Sheehan said.
He also argued that putting the question on the ballot would open the door for anyone who can get the 10 signatures required to make a request to move forward and get a question on the ballot.
Ishler pointed out that this would not be the first time residents have been asked to vote on the matter in a town election.
"This is the opportunity for the residents of South Hadley to express an opinion," Ishler said.
"This is an important matter to the town," said Selectman John R. Hine, who is a member of Sugrue's group.
Sheehan went on to question whether Hine can vote on the issue because he is a member of Citizens to Unite South Hadley.
Select Board Chairwoman Carlene C. Hamlin said Sheehan should address his query to the district attorney's office.
"So we are going to take a vote without knowing that?" Sheehan said.
Town Clerk-Treasurer Judith E. Barthelette commented that putting the question on the ballot will be an expense, although she said she would not name any figures.
Mark A. Beauregard, the attorney for Fire District 1, urged the town to leave district business within the districts.
"Even if these ballots are nonbinding, they are divisive and confusing," Beauregard said. Following the meeting, Beauregard said Fire District 1 officials oppose a merger because it would raise taxes in Fire District 1 to "subsidize" lowering them in Fire District 2.
Raymond M. Hopfe, chairman of the Fire District 1 Prudential Committee, did not speak at the meeting and declined to comment afterward.
Sugrue has gotten Fire District 2 to put a nonbinding question on a merger on the ballot for its election on March 10 and is still working with Fire District 1 officials to get a question on the ballot for its election April 27.
Sugure and his group have argued a merger would be more efficient and save money by not duplicating services.
by The Republican Newsroom
Tuesday March 03, 2009, 6:00 PM
By SANDRA E. CONSTANTINE
sconstantine@repub.com
SOUTH HADLEY - Terrance B. Sugrue and his group Citizens to Unite South Hadley moved a step closer to getting a merger of the town's two fire districts Monday when the Select Board voted 4-1 to put a nonbinding question on the matter on the ballot for the April 6 town election.
The Select Board put the matter to a vote after about 20 minutes of discussion during a special session called to deal with Sugrue's petition to put a question the ballot. Select Board member Marilyn G. Ishler made the motion, which was seconded by Selectman Robert G. Judge. Selectman Gregory R. Sheehan cast the lone dissenting vote.
Sheehan said the matter of a merger should be settled in the districts. The districts consist of Fire District 1, which provides fire protection and water for the southern part of the community, and Fire District 2, which provides those services to the northern part of town.
"We have as much jurisdiction (over the districts) as we do over the town of Amherst," Sheehan said.
He also argued that putting the question on the ballot would open the door for anyone who can get the 10 signatures required to make a request to move forward and get a question on the ballot.
Ishler pointed out that this would not be the first time residents have been asked to vote on the matter in a town election.
"This is the opportunity for the residents of South Hadley to express an opinion," Ishler said.
"This is an important matter to the town," said Selectman John R. Hine, who is a member of Sugrue's group.
Sheehan went on to question whether Hine can vote on the issue because he is a member of Citizens to Unite South Hadley.
Select Board Chairwoman Carlene C. Hamlin said Sheehan should address his query to the district attorney's office.
"So we are going to take a vote without knowing that?" Sheehan said.
Town Clerk-Treasurer Judith E. Barthelette commented that putting the question on the ballot will be an expense, although she said she would not name any figures.
Mark A. Beauregard, the attorney for Fire District 1, urged the town to leave district business within the districts.
"Even if these ballots are nonbinding, they are divisive and confusing," Beauregard said. Following the meeting, Beauregard said Fire District 1 officials oppose a merger because it would raise taxes in Fire District 1 to "subsidize" lowering them in Fire District 2.
Raymond M. Hopfe, chairman of the Fire District 1 Prudential Committee, did not speak at the meeting and declined to comment afterward.
Sugrue has gotten Fire District 2 to put a nonbinding question on a merger on the ballot for its election on March 10 and is still working with Fire District 1 officials to get a question on the ballot for its election April 27.
Sugure and his group have argued a merger would be more efficient and save money by not duplicating services.
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