TRI-TOWN AMBULANCE
West Tisbury Chilmark Aquinnah
Chief Ben Retmier, Tri-Town Ambulance Chief
P.O. Box 457 West Tisbury, MA. 02575
PHONE/FAX: 508·693·4992
Tri-Town Ambulance Committee
June 7, 2017 Meeting Minutes
The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Jim Newman at 12:05 p.m.
In attendance
Cynthia Mitchell, Committee Member, Jim Newman Committee Chair, Warren Doty, Committee Member, Chief Retmier, Chief Simon Bolin, Chief Estrella, Sharon Estrella, Allison Graczykowski, Admin Assistant
- Approval of May 3rd, 2017 Meeting Minutes
Committee Member Cynthia Mitchell moved to approve the meeting minutes, with the noted changes. Committee member Warren Doty seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Warren Doty shared from the prior month meeting that Town Accountant Ellen Biskis shared print outs of the budget and where Tri-Town Ambulance was to date. The budget is in decent shape.
Chair Jim Newman asked that we have the “EMT on Duty” signs placed outside the stations.
Time will be reserved for topics the chair did not reasonably anticipate.
Jim Newman states that it’s his job to do the evaluation and he’ll take care of that.
Jim also states that it’s time for a new Chair.
Cynthia Mitchell motioned to appoint Warren Doty as the chair. Jim Newman seconded the motion.
The motion passed unanimously. Effective July 2017 Warren Doty will be the Chair of Tri-Town Ambulance Committee.
Chief Retmier shared that over the last three-month period Tri-Town Ambulance has had 99 incidents. During this same three-month period, last year, Tri-Town Ambulance had 84 incidents. There were no overdoses or major calls over this three-month period. The year to date number of runs is 138 as compared to last year which was 122. Chief Retmier credits the increase to better documentation of stand-by calls and refusals.
Chief Retmier shared that the HGAC paperwork has been completed. (HGAC stand for Houston Galveston Area Counsel.) Being part of this collective allows TTA to purchase a new vehicle, similar to buying off a state bid list.
Full Time Medic Analysis
Chief Retmier shared the cost analysis of bringing on another full-time paramedic. The committee would like to revisit this in six months.
Committee member Cynthia Mitchell would like the new per diem policy approved by the committee.
- TTA Committee plan for Station
Committee Member Warren Doty and Chief Retmier spent time looking at sites, the first one being located on Pasture Rd ¼ mile down from Tabor House Road.
The benefit of this particular parcel is that it is town owned.
Other locations viewed were located across the road from the Chilmark landfill, land on North Road across from the Cross Roads Intersection and land located approximately ½ mile from the Cross roads toward South Road.
Committee member Warren Doty and Chief Retmier attended the BOS Meeting who advised them to circle back to the TTA Committee and come up with a plan of what they would like to do. At that time, the BOS would like them to come back and present the plan.
There was a discussion among Committee members, Chief Retmier and meeting attendees of concerns, such as cost and efficiency of scale.
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Chief Retmier shared that there is a Chilmark Public Safety Site Committee that was formed for the purpose of building a joint building with Chilmark Fire.
Committee Member Cynthia Mitchell states that we need to have a committee to move this forward. Committee Chair, Jim Newman shared that he thought it would be efficient if we have TTA Committee be part of this group and pull in police chiefs or folks who understand what this is about.
Ross architects did a needs assessment that has already been paid for. A new design can be done when the time is appropriate.
Committee Member Warren Doty states that we need to move toward establishing a building committee. Warren Doty asked Chief Retmier to go back and pull the report from Ross Architects. Chief Retmier will provide that at the next meeting.
The members of the Tri-Town Ambulance Committee agreed that the committee would be comprised of no more than seven members. They also agree that perhaps member(s) of public safety who have had recent experiences with new facilities should be asked to be on this committee, as well as representation from all three towns. Chief Retmier offered that he will put it out to the Police and Fire Chiefs.
The newly formed Committee will meet before the July 12th TTAC meeting.
Allison Graczykowski, Administrative Assistant reviewed the collections to date with the Committee. Collections continue to go well.
The next meeting will be held on July 12, 2017, 12:00 pm at the West Tisbury Fire Station on State Road, West Tisbury.
Committee member Cynthia Mitchell motioned to adjourn the meeting at 12:52 pm. and Committee member Warren Doty seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
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Prepared by: _____________________________________________
Allison Graczykowski, Clerical Assistant
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