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
May 7, 2019 Meeting Minutes
Approved by the Committee June 4, 2019
Committee Chair Warren Doty called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m.
In attendance
Committee Chair Warren Doty, Committee Member Cindy Mitchell, Committee Member Jim Newman, Chief Ben Retmier, Admin Assistant Allison Graczykowski
- Approval of April 2nd and April 12th, 2019 Meeting Minutes
Committee Member Cindy Mitchell motioned to approve the April 2, 2019 meeting minutes as written. Committee Chair Warren Doty seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Committee Member Jim Newman abstained as he was not present at this meeting.
Committee Member Jim Newman motioned to approve the April 12, 2019 meeting minutes as written. Committee Chair Warren Doty seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Committee Member Cindy Mitchell abstained as she was not present at this meeting.
Committee Chair Warren Doty shared that Chilmark voters endorsed the purchase of the Carroll property. In addition, an article passed for design funding in the amount of $200,000.00.
Next steps Warren believes will be to develop a seven-member building committee and then have two subcommittees. One subcommittee for Tri-Town EMS and one subcommittee for fire.
The TTA Committee discussed ideas on how to pay for the building based on the premise that all three town are willing to pay for one third of the building.
The members of the TTA Committee will begin the conversation with their respective Boards of Selectmen.
Chief Retmier provided an update on the Community Paramedicine project. He shared that he has buy in from two of the three fire Chiefs, Dr. Casper, Council on Aging and Chilmark Board of Health (Martina Lent). Chief Retmier stated that he’ll continue to work with the third fire Chief and his concerns.
Time will be reserved for topics the chair did not reasonably anticipate.
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Three Month Review
Chief Retmier shared that from February 7, 2019 to May 7, 2019, Tri-Town Ambulance had a total of 66 incidents. Last year for this same period, there were 68 incidents.
The year to date total thus far for 2019 is 98 incidents. At the same time last year Tri-Town Ambulance had 91 incidents.
Chief Retmier explained to the Committee that the State denied Tri-Town Ambulance their Seasonal Certification Status, which means that he is unable to offer EMT’s hourly shifts for the summer season (under 20 weeks). Town Administrator Tim Carroll told Chief Retmier that in prior years TTA was denied, however historically he would submit an appeal and the decision would be overturned.
This year, that was not the case and Chief Retmier told the Committee the he along with Tim Carroll attended a phone hearing with the State last week and they were told that the written verdict would be mailed to them. As of today, Chief Retmier has not received a decision from the State.
Chief Retmier asked the TTA Committee for approval to increase the stipend shift pay for the summer season to $300.00 which will be paid out of the Seasonal Budget Line Item.
Committee Member Cindy Mitchell motioned to approve the stipend increase as proposed by Chief Retmier and Committee Member Jim Newman seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Additionally, Chief Retmier told the Committee that EMT’s have hesitated to apply not knowing if there are Seasonal Shifts. Chief has received very few applications.
Collections continue to go well.
Tuesday June 4th at 12:00 pm.
Committee member Cindy Mitchell motioned to adjourn the meeting at 12:47pm and Committee Chair Warren Doty seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Prepared by: ____________________________________________
Allison Graczykowski Administrative Assistant
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