Inter-Municipal Cooperation Committee
Minutes of Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Location:
Truro Town Hall, 24 Town Hall Road, Truro
Present:
Sheila Vanderhoef, Eastham Town Administrator; David Schropfer, Eastham Selectman;
Michele Couture, Provincetown Selectman; Pam Nolan, Truro Town Administrator; Curtis Hartman, Truro Selectman; Paul Sieloff, Wellfleet Town Administrator;
The meeting was called to order at 10:11 a.m.
Overview of agenda items
David Schropfer gave the committee an overview of the items he hoped to cover during the meeting.
Review of the report to the Boards of Selectmen
Cable consortium - David Schropfer reported on where the negotiations stand. They are moving forward. The attorney is working on the small details that affect each town's special needs.
Implementation opportunity – The committee discussed how to make what they are discussing happen:
- Paul Sieloff commented that recently when three towns each had an employment opening at the same time, there was communication between them. Ultimately, they couldn't do anything regionally in this particular case, but the communication between town administrators was a good first step. Curtis Hartman said that the Eastham RMV site closing and NStar spraying herbicides were also examples of working together on State and regional issues. Sheila Vanderhoef noted that in the case of NStar, she could have made the call sooner. Ms. Couture commented that they have more strength as a collective. Mr. Sieloff questioned if one letter signed by all would have more impact than sending individual letters.
-They discussed the recent Assembly vote on funds for regionalization studies. Curtis Hartman said that Truro's representative had actually voted against it; there needs to be more communication between the Selectmen and town representatives. It was agreed that they should invite the representatives of the CCC and the Assembly to one of their meetings to talk about improved coordination between the groups (Representative Peake would be copied). David Schropfer asked if they should have a point person—a town employee who would assume the job of ensuring members are contacted; this would improve coordination and communication. He suggested that who ever does the minutes might be the contact point for each town. Discussion followed. Curtis Hartman felt it would be just as easy
for each Town Administrator to shoot out an e-mail.
-Michelle Couture felt it was important to share capital plans. David Schropfer pointed out that we have mutual aid, so why does each town need its own big equipment. Pam Nolan said that response time was part of it. Sheila Vanderhoef said she feels that operator and equipment sharing works best, especially if the need is not time sensitive, as with DPW needs. David Schropfer told them about the dispatch station at Otis. It is very high-tech and could handle all the towns on the Cape. It is very efficient. It handles fire right now, not police. Curtis Hartman noted that they all agreed that regional policing makes sense, but how do they build from the ground up, and not from the top down. Politically, how do you do this? It was felt that they need to
ask for input from departments on a place to start. David Schropfer said no presentation based on financials has ever passed; they are all based on service improvement. Sheila Vanderhoef agreed, adding that both efficiency and cost will sell the best.
-They discussed the public's concept that someone must physically be present at the fire/police station to answer calls. Paul Sieloff stated that a policeman's office is his police car. They agreed that they need to have department members talk together about what small things can be done. Michelle Couture said they should be looking at the physical plant. They discussed arrests and lock-ups. Michelle Couture thought they should have a sub-station and a major station that is shared. Pam Nolan said that consolidated dispatch is doable as a first step. Sheila Vanderhoef said that their report will be out soon, and it can be used as a template, a “how to”. They all agreed that it is important that the department leadership buy in on it, and that department heads have
discussion, even if it is just to point out what is wrong with it. Discussion is still a good thing.
Briefing on regionalization meeting in Worcester:
The committee members who had attended the recent meeting gave an overview:
-Regionalization is a hot topic, and the mood is there. The meeting was very well attended by towns across the State.
-The Lt. Governor spoke.
-They got a good blueprint to use regarding police department (and other department) mergers.
-The documents are available on line.
-There was no in depth information.
-The interest is because towns are in fiscal trouble.
How to proceed:
The committee agreed to have the town representatives come to their next meeting. Curtis Hartman said they need to discuss how to coordinate politically on items of joint interest. David Schropfer will provide an invitation via e-mail to each town to send out to the invited guests. He will work on finding the best date for everyone to be invited. The meeting was tentatively set for October 22nd at 10:00 a.m. in Eastham.
NPS Maintenance Facility:
David Schropfer reported on what the Cape Collaborative was doing with school buses. They have added Mashpee, and he had heard that Truro was also a possibility. In Mashpee, they have cut out a run and saved money. The NPS wants to put a maintenance facility on property that is not part of the CCNS. They are looking at purchasing a 5+ acre parcel on Route Six in Wellfleet.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Julie DuPree, Administrative Secretary
Town of Truro
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