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10/29/2009 |
Towns may share Rescue Service
Hoping to reduce Cumberland Rescue Service overtime costs currently running about $29,000 a month, Mayor Daniel McKee will begin advertising immediately, he told The Breeze Friday, for per-diem rescue service employees.
Additionally, he is "very close," he said, to shutting down one of the two rescue stations and developing a formal plan for sharing rescue services with the town of Lincoln.
McKee said he and Lincoln Town Administrator T. Joseph Almond are "having conversations about what it would look like" to develop a mutual aid strategy that sees a varying number of rescue crews on duty, depending on the time of day, covering both towns.
Almond calls it an "inter-municipal agreement" that would see the two towns share equipment and personnel to enhance service while cutting down on overtime and administrative costs.
Toward that goal, the two are analyzing how many calls come in per shift according to variables such as time of day and day of the week.
Almond, a retired Lincoln police lieutenant who is finishing his third year as town administrator, and McKee, who is starting his eighth year as mayor of Cumberland, have long said privately that emergency services might be better organized geographically east and west between the two towns rather than with each service keeping to its own side of the river.
Almond has just begun an analysis, but says, for example, that calls for rescue fall off by 80 percent after 1 p.m. Still, the two towns are each staffing two rescues, for a total of four, around the clock. Cumberland's rescues are in Ashton and Valley Falls while Lincoln's are in Lonsdale and Albion.
Could just three of those units cover the two towns during the early morning hours thereby freeing up personnel to take shifts that cover for squad members out sick or on vacation?
That's the analysis under way now. Almond says he expects to reassign and redistribute staff rather than reducing it.
"Significant" cuts in overtime may be possible.
"I'm wasting money staffing overnight in Lincoln and he's (McKee's) wasting money staffing overnight in Cumberland," he suggests.
Efficiency would be good news to McKee where $175,000 is budgeted for overtime this year while costs are actually tracking toward $350,000, says McKee.
Both leaders say rescue services in the two towns isn't especially expensive - $1.3 million for Lincoln and $1.4 for Cumberland - and both towns recoup about half of that through third-party reimbursement.
"Rescue service is not a big expense," Almond said. "It's pretty efficient."
Crews make a combined 7,500 calls a year, Almond said, or about 21 runs a day with some lasting as long as three hours.
In fact, both town leaders have high praise for the individuals on the rescue services with McKee saying "they are very well regarded. This isn't reflection on their work ethic or professionalism. They are dealing with life and death on a daily basis."
Says Almond, "Where it breaks down is with overtime covering for vacation or the sick or injured." Overtime for the two towns is running about a half-million dollars a year, he said.
It's high because each town staffs the crews with the number needed to run shifts around the clock. Covering for absent members boosts the hourly rate to time and one-half, from about $22 an hour to about $33. And that's what Cumberland is wrestling with.
Almond says he can promise residents won't see response time increased.
In fact, he predicts the opposite.
"The theory is that the more you isolate your staff and equipment then the more you create a problem" with response time.
Almond who is just diving into the analysis suggests that if the Albion rescue is busy then the next fastest response to the Lincoln Mall is Ashton, not Lonsdale.
However, if Valley Falls is busy, then Lonsdale, not Ashton, is a faster choice for One Mendon Road.
Almond is quick to admit that citizens "can be very parochial" about emergency personnel. "They like to see the word Lincoln on the side of the responding vehicle," he acknowledges.
News of the rescue talks comes as Almond continues his push to merge Lincoln's six fire districts.
In these two towns where 87 percent of fire district calls are for medical emergencies followed up by rescue crews, Almond says rescue and fire district issues are woven together, even though rescue services in both towns are municipal departments while fire coverage is handled by a total of 10 independent fire districts in the two towns.
Almond held a meeting last week with members of the six district boards of fire commissioners to discuss merging.
He'd begun the year by gathering together fire chiefs but says those talks didn't go far. "It was like asking kids to give up their toys," he said.
Instead, he's optimistic about working with the commissioners, he said, and has another meeting set for early November.
One person who attended the session last week described Almond's approach with the fire district leaders as "aggressive."
Almond says merging fire districts has been a losing proposition for years because the focus tends to be on the obstacles.
He says he's looking at the benefits and confident that if he lays out a plan, he can make it work.
He has also volunteered to take a look at Cumberland's fire district scheduling with an eye toward pulling all the towns' emergency personnel into a single detailed plan for covering the 50,000 people living on both sides of the river.
Cumberland's Acting Director Greg Noury expressed support for the mayor's plan to hire per diem rescue members. The caliber of those temporary staff members would be no different than new hires, he said.
"We're managing relatively small marginal fixes, that's what we're down to," McKee says of the $12 or so per hour in overtime costs the per diem plan will save.
Almond says that option isn't permitted in the contract Lincoln signed with its rescue service personnel.
11/3/2009
That's really a nice thing to hear coming from your mayor that their comments are garbage! Maybe you should have someone else writing your replies. That's what we need someone in a local government telling those that are exercising their first amendment rights that their comments are garbage. After that remark, maybe we should remove the "garbage" from town hall!
11/2/2009
Message from Mayor McKee Some of the points being mentioned are helpful most are not. The idea of moving the rescue service to Nate Whipple Hwy has merit. The personal garbage is just that. The point that I will continue to make is about the unfair state funding policies and the impact that these policies are having and will continue to have on our ability to provide services to Cumberland residents. Last year $1.3 M was cut from our budget by the State. This amount represents the entire rescue budget. In the next year as much as $2.8 M more could get cut. This represents the entire budget for recreation, finance, planning, library, clerks office, senior center, solicitors office and to the delight of some the Mayors office. The points made on the breeze email, although important to posters, pales in relation to what lies ahead if we don't impress on the General Assembly and our Reps and Senators that fair funding policies must be put in place now. Soon we will hold information workshops about the school and vehicle funding. Please attend.
11/1/2009
The northeastern portion of Cumberland is expanding in population yet the rescue vehicles are situated in the southern part of town. With limited route access and traffic patterns it can take rescue personnel longer to get to places like Arnold Mills or Tower Hill Road. Time is a critical factor when a person is stricken or in an accident. Wouldn't it be prudent to move one of the rescue vehicles to the town garage on Nate Whipple Highway rather than closing down one of the two rescue services as Mayor McKee is proposing? Granted the town is looking to save money but there has to be a better way than cutting back on public safety. It's a good idea to consolidate services provided the coverage is maintained or better still, improved.
11/1/2009
Ron, I must agree. I have my own legitimate concerns about this town too. I prefer that our mayor not associate with mayors from other towns. Look whats going on in North Providence with that mayor lombardi! Things are obviously unstable and getting worse. The last thing we need is to get involved with a town like that! There must be a better way.
11/1/2009
And their mayor wasting time, money and resources on his own little pet project: a mayoral academy!
10/31/2009
Message from Mayor Mckee I get the point of Mr.M and others who are obsessed with not having a acting director. When a co director or a director is appointed this issue will no longer be fuel for your fire. For those concerned over budget issues: There is time to get the budget back in balance. Second for any residents concerned about service level there will not be a decline in service level. The issue that needs our attention is that unfair state funding is hurting Cumberland and its ability to provide excellent service efficiently, including rescue service. Cumberland is being shortchanged millions of dollars each year because of an unfair allocation of school and vehicle funds by the State. this fact is what should outrage Cumbeland taxpayers.
10/31/2009
Vic you masterfuly "nailed it" Upper Management that has a clue is the "key" to fixing this problem!! Hire a director that has management in EMS and all the problems go away!!!
10/31/2009
This article is quite perplexing in that it does not cite whether or not a comprehensive, professional impact and personnel consultation has been undertaken or sought. In my academic and empirical experience, the theme that manifested itself from "Personnel Management 101" always emphasizes sound management principles. Having served with the Town of Cumberland Rescue Service in the early to mid 80's, professional leadership and management was all but absent. It is blatantly evident to me that the plan offered by Messers McKee and Almond will not only create a regressive strategy for both rescue services, but will amplify the problem at hand in terms of paradoxical. overtime. The crux of the overtime dilemma in the fire service is often times a direct relation to injury or illness, whether long or short term. However, it is innately intangible and cannot be foreseen or predicted. Initially, if the Director ensures that a proper physical fitness, nutrition and overall physical and psychological wellness program is instituted and maintained, injuries and illnesses could be drastically reduced. A "reverse domino effect" then takes place resulting in far fewer overtime shifts and incurred costs. Secondly, personnel morale is "key" to maintaining employee well being regardless of career. Personnel studies have proven time and again that the higher the morale, the healthier the employee, yielding a more efficient and productive outcome. Lastly, "per diem" is defined: as needed or as required. As I learned in the nursing service, many per diem employees will not exude a commitment to the position as a full time professional will. That is not to insinuate that they cannot be professional, but it is factual that because they are not in the position on a full time basis, skill decay now becomes a paramount issue, which is the fire/rescue service is detrimental for any patient in need. In summation, professional management is the most important factor to reducing the overtime costs. A leader who possesses the qualities of leadership, budgetary and personnel management, grant acquisition, and a desire to administer the utmost in state of the art training together with the well being of his/her employees will ultimately result in a highly productive outcome in both the private or public sectors. Victor Caron,
10/31/2009
Bill: Who put you in charge of my 1st amendment rights!? Gregg, Mayor Mckee?
10/31/2009
Mike Hunt...stage name yourself? This has been questioned before....only one acting director. All be it acting for too long, but no other director is in as an acting director. Comments such as your degrade this type of blog. I think in the world of SAG it is call a s**t stirrer. Stop it. Please.
10/31/2009
from what I've heard, there are so many people in acting positions, that you also need a union card from the SAG (screen actors guild)
10/31/2009
Oops, found a typo, should have been "higher" standard. Also thanks Breeze for having this feedback forum.
10/31/2009
Just a few points. Mayor, thank you for participating in this forum. Could you please explain why there has been an acting director for so long (2-3 years)? Article 3, section 306, subsection C, of the Town Charter, clearly states that vacancies in mayoral appointments may only be filled by acting appointments for 60 days. You have stated that you advertised and accepted a candidate for Rescue director last year, only to have the candidater accept employment elsewhere. Were there no other qualified applicants? I can't believe there was no one else qualified and interested in the job. "Acting" positions do not give short or long term stability to a department or orginization; perhaps this is why it was specifically addressed in the charter. Let's leave the job performance of the current acting director out of this for now; this is not the forum for discussing someones job performance. Instead let's move on and hire a permanant director. Next issue: Can you explain, Mr. Mayor, why the rescue service would hire an EMT without passing the physical agility test, and then after not passing said test, keeping them in employ. When the major problem with overtime is due to IOD injuries, this practice can't help the issue. On a related note, the news article speaks of hiring per diem EMTs. After checking the rescue union contract (available on town website, under HR dept.), to see if these hires are even possible (I was surprised to see it is), the contract states that per diem EMTs must have the physical agility certificate prior to hire. Why would we hold part time employees to a hire standard then full time employees. This just doesn't make sense. -- concerned citizen, even though I am not a town employee, I feel compelled to not use my real name on this forum, retaliation is a real threat in this world. I see you didn't use yours either, hypocrite!
10/30/2009
I think people should start useing there real names you candy asses!!!!
10/30/2009
You say that you are at full staff. However, are all members of your rescue department qualified to be in the positions that they are in? Take for instance Mr. Noury: From what Mr. Smith has written, Noury is still in the union. Despite there being language in the charter that specifically says that a person can only be in an acting position for a period of time. What has Noury done to advance the rescue department? He consistently shows up to work late, takes 1-2 hour lunches, leaves work early, and at times he is unreachable! He can't even keep track of the employees under his control to have them report their status of their licenses! I hear that there were a couple of "his men" working on the truck with expired licenses! Or how about the computerized reports? They buy one software, use it for a while, then they bye another, more expensive, program, that they can't get support for! They now have to go back to the older software. What was the expense for that? From what I've heard from my brother in law, morale in that department is lacking. Yes they provide excellent care to the residents, however, in a pinch, and the stuff hits the fan, you can not go to Noury with a question or concern about patient care. He is only an EMT-C. He has never had the ambition, or initiative, to attempt to better himself for his patients or himself. Mayor Mckee, you should really clean your own house before attempting to join in this venture with another town. Maybe you should start with your hiring practices? Allowing people to continue to work after they were not able to complete a "REQUIRED" agility test. That's absurd! Here comes some more on duty injuries!
10/30/2009
Per Diem personnel at a union job...hmm... we call them SCABS!!!
10/30/2009
10/30/2009
Message from Mayor McKee Yes, no jobs will be lost with any option under consideration. And no member of the department will pay the price of their jobs. Our staff is very qualified and we do not plan to replace any member of the department. and to your point of hiring sooner....we could not predict how many IOD's we would have or how long they would be out of work.........in retrospect it would have been better if we had hired a month or two sooner but it is not too late to get the overtime under control and that is why we are managing the situation early in this fiscal year. Our town's fiscal year starts on July 1 2009 and not Jan 1. We have time to get the overtime under control. Today we are back to full staff and over the past few pay periods the overtime is down 100% in comparison to the high levels experienced in July and August.
10/30/2009
Mr. Mayor, How can you say that the department is not being mismanaged? Mr. Noury has been at the helm for the past few years and has accomplished little to nothing. Had Mr. Noury had an active hiring list in the during the beginning of the year, someone would have been hired to fill those long term injuries, as it has been done in the past. It is because of him that the overtime has spiraled out of control. The Town has gotten off easy for the last few years by not paying for a permanent rescue director (which in itself is a direct charter violation), but now the rank and file must be the ones who pay for it. After just hiring 2 new EMTs to fill these long term injury positions, are you prepared to say that no one will lose their jobs over this so called merger?
10/30/2009
Message from Mayor Dan McKee As I read the comments a couple points might help raise the level of this conversation that up to now is based in both fact and fiction: First the rescue department provides a great service and it is not being mismanaged. The department has skilled and competent personal, which includes the acting director and deputy director. The professional communities and the publics high regard for the department speaks for itself. It is unfortunate that a few would bring thier own personal agenda to personalize such an important discussion. The problem with the overtime is due to a high number of Injured on Duty members of the rescue during the first quarter of this year. This has caused the budget to be running over budget and in the face of the state budget cuts we can't wait to the end of the year to address this negative budget trend. Per diem coverage and the strategic use of a mutual aid agreements during hours that involve overtime will help bring the budget back in line with the goal of being in balancefor year end. Any concern about a Cumberland resident being charged by a Lincoln rescue or vice versa is false information. The cost for rescue services will not change from the way it exists today. Another cost efficiency measure that is being explored is the sharing of a Director with Lincoln. We will advertise for a Director for a third time in November. Last year the position was offered and accepted to a qualified candidate. But as in the past the candidate accepted and then renegged because another community offered a higher compensation package than our budget allows. The sharing of a director would bring potential savings and allow us to be competitive with salary. There is a bigger issue that was the reason I brought this story to the public. It has to do with the loss of State Funding and the impact it will have on our community. Two weeks ago I hosted a town hall meeting to discuss the budget issues. Unfortunately only a few people showed up. The message that is urgent to deliver is that the State Funding policies, namely the School Fundig and Vehicle Phase-out funding is very unfair to Cumberland taxpayers. The town is mistreated by the loss of millions of dollars each year. And this is the most important issue for residents to get up to speed on. Soon we will hold more town hall meetings in Cumberland and in other communities who are also being short changed. Please plan to attend because unless you can explain how these two state funding sources work it will be difficult for you to be of helpful in our efforts to let our Reps and Senators know we no longer can accept this second class treatment. PS To anyone who knows a business who wants to expand or locate in Cumberland please call my office ASAP. The current expansion of 400,000 square feet of space for CVS that will employ hundreds of people and bring in thousands of dollars of tax dollars was the result of such a call to my office. Thanks for everyones interest. And on another note we have already received dozens of resumes of Cumberland residents who are unemployed or underemployed. If you know a resident who is looking for a job encourage them to send in their resume. We will be forwarding information to CVS and others in the hope that some will find employment. I am planning a public meeting, as I did with the business community last Spring, and inviting residents looking for employment to meet with state and federal officials to make a statement that we want job opportunities for our Cumberland residents. Mayor Dan McKee
10/30/2009
PHIL: Please, don't you think they would NOT bill Cumberland residents and Cumberland NOT bill Lincoln...come on be smarter than that.
10/30/2009
John, I don't disagree but that is NOT within the scope of this one particular topic. Town management as a whole is either accepted or rejected at election time. This is an issue to be worked on BETWEEN elections. As for paying large bills or no bill at all. IF this goes through to a town sharing plan then, come election time, the tax vs. bill or no bill issue should be addressed. Lets take one step at a time.
10/30/2009
one point id like to make to the people who "dont care what the side of the truck says" if you are a resident of cumberland and cumberland rescue picks you up you do not have to pay a dime out of pocket..if lincoln picks you up expect a large bill since you are not a tax payer in lincoln...if this merger takes place you better hope that one rescue left staffed in cumberland is the one that takes you to the hospital.
10/30/2009
Scott, I do not where u get your info but you need to get you facts straight.Mayor Mcgee has dug the town into a hole for years by not wanting new industry "tax paying" industry into the town. Now because he is getting heat from the taxpayers he figures he can attack a service that provides excellent service to the "taxpayers"of Cumberland. Lets get rid of the "Mismanagement" in Cumberland town hall!!!!!
10/30/2009
Look Folks. This is an overall town safety and efficiency (money) issue. Lets not get bogged down on INDIVIDUAL managment issues in the context of this issue. First address the overall system and get a structure in place that gives us the best chance at realizing our safety needs and financial constraints. THEN, if needed, address INDIVIDUALS that may be impeding the success of the system in place. Don't lose focus over individuals yet.
10/30/2009
Actually I hear that he would rather play on FaceBook. He's also a dispatcher for a fire/news pager service and that takes up a lot of his time! He's in charge of a paramedic service, and doesn't know what their job entail, nor what the training involves. His acting deputy director, Captain Deangelis, is more qualified to run that department. It's a shame, because Cumberland used to be a desirable place to work.
10/29/2009
From what I am reading I gather that the so called acting director of rescue is not doing his job to his capacity. With a overtime cost to be $29,000 during a particular month is outrageous. Mayor McKee must know that this a/d is more involved with planning the upcomming Cumberlandfest on a daily basis while at work Is that is why his biweekly pay is in the $2000 range
10/29/2009
I strongly agree with Dave Adams. Mr. Noury is also union and acting under administrative perks as well. He has had the best of both worlds and this is what is killing us "the taxpayers" paid holidays under his union contract but he does not work them or put in as time off for them isn't that double dipping?? There seems to be misuse of that expedition he trots around in with his kids at times. My tax dollars are paying for a useless position he is in. The Mayor needs to start with him forst never mind taking a highly needed truck out of service. It starts at the top. Start with him.
10/29/2009
This is how our County-Wide System works here: http://www.lcwc.co.lancaster.pa.us/lcwc/lcwc/publiccad.asp?lcwcNav=%7C. Would this work for your situation in Rhode Island?
10/29/2009
Maybe Mayor McKee should take care of the problems within his own house, prior to taking on another town. Town charter says that a temporary department head should only be in that position for 60 days. Noury has been there for almost three years!
10/29/2009
john: I'm confused as usual?? How is the Gov is the problem? Last time I looked the GA ran the show and the Don was powerless to do much?
10/29/2009
John, If you read my post completely I said to realize the savings of improving efficiency then in turn utilize that savings to provide the level of training necessary to achieve all paramedics. It will be a win win.
10/29/2009
Why has the town management not looked nto cutting police officier's??? At least the Rescue's generate income to the general fund!!!!!
10/29/2009
Scott, If a lincoln rescue or a central falls rescue responds to your home you are right you will get good care they are all professionals.However cumberland is staffed with paramedics they get alot more education and are able to peform alot of skills that those other depts cannot. There are certain medications that paramedics can give that cardiacs cannot believe me if your family member needs to be cared for wouldnt you want the highest level of care for them. be glad you live in cumberland and get that kind of care. members of both rescue services realize there is a big deficit in funding that is why concessions have been made by both unions to help out ther respective towns unions are not the problem gov carcieri is.
10/29/2009
Judging by some of the defensive type comments, this must be a good idea. I live in Manville and there are THREE rescues with 3 minutes of my house. THREE!! Just a "little" overkill don't ya think??
10/29/2009
Bill you must live very close to a station that has a rescue. I hope to god you or a family member does not have to wait 7mins"brain death" for a rescue to arrive.Maybe an Attleboro or better yet a Bellingham rescue, while Lincoln rescue 4 is doing mutual aide to Providence or Cumberland recue 1 doing mutual aide to Woonsocket.All you have to do is spend 1 day and listin to a scanner to "get the facts"!!!!!
10/29/2009
John what are you talking about man? Do you seriously think we need to have "neighborhood" rescues? That's essentially what it seems your lobbying for. These rescues need to be located and coordinated across town lines to provide the quickest response time possible no matter what side of the town line the emergency is on. The money saved by reducing the number of units or locations of them for efficient service will pay for the training needed to increase the skill sets for all of the fine responders in all towns. I do not care if a central falls rescue, a Lincoln rescue or a Woonsocket rescue responds provided it is the timeliest unit available at the time. Get a grip man. Do you think every one should be given their own AED for their home also? Keep up the good fight Bill.
10/29/2009
BOB: The cost is minimal compared to the OT. I bet two months OT would do it...da learn the facts. Mismanaged? trying to regionalize is mismanaging? Let's leave "well enough alone" as you say and stay the same and go broke. Nice plan.-----John to use your logic we need a rescue for every citizen......what happens with a North Cumb person needs a rescue and Cumb is busy in the Valley??????We should have 10-15 rescus just hanging around? Oh I bet your union so you would want that. Don't we have firefighters responding now ahead of the rescue, or are they going to kill someone too???-------- Keep putting up the road blocks for change and improvement, this State is going broke and the towns are following behind them....unless of course everyone wants to double their tax bills???
10/29/2009
What people fail to realize is that it SHOULD NOT MATTER what town is painted on the side of the rescue. The 2 mayors need to evaluate, between the two towns, how quickly each portion of town can be served WITHOUT CONSIDERATION TO THE NAME ON THE VEHICLE. If a Lincoln rescue can physically get to me in Cumberland in 4 minutes but the nearest Cumberland rescue is 10 minutes I want the Lincoln rescue dispatched. Stop crying about how many we have but how they are used instead. You can NOT realistically plan for multiple events occuring simultaneously. Plan for one and have a back up plan for if/when that primary service is already in use.
10/29/2009
Ther is a flu pandemic in this country and RI will see its share of sick kids and these mayors want to shut down rescues.Alot of people rely on these personnel for transport to the hospital.The system will get over taxed and people will wait extended periods of time for help. I hope these two mayors know what they are doing to there respected taxpayers. It may not happen often but people will die and people will wait for rescues. I hope they never have a sick family lying on the floor looking for help and you may not see a rescue for 10 - 15 minutes. what these mayors are not telling the public is that the town of lincoln and cumberland are not heavily populated but the response time is longer than that for instance central falls rescues. cumberland and lincoln are very large in size. If a taxpayer in north cumberland calls for a rescue they may get a rescue from lincoln which is on front street in lincoln a response to north cumberland is easily 10 minutes.Forget about when it snows neither community ave a four wheel drive rescue you may not see a rescue for far longer than 10 - 15 minutes when it starts snowing. Do you want to wait 15 minutes when your loved one isnt breathing. Tax payers need to speak up unless they are prepared to wait a long time seeing national standard for response is 5 - 6 minutes at the most. lincoln and cumberland will far exceed that time frame that is allowed. speak up and do not let this happen.
10/29/2009
And How much is it going to "cost" to ?upgrade??? Lets leave well enough alone and find other ways to fix the mismanagement of both towns!!!
10/29/2009
How many people has the Lincoln Rescue killed this year? Cumberland? Yeah I thought so....both do a great job. As things move along you upgrade Lincoln's men to Paramedic. Stop with the road blocks to progress.
10/29/2009
Does the Town residents of Cumberland understand that they have the only Paramedic level rescue service's in the State? I think not!!!!! Lincoln Rescue is staffed by Cardiac Level Personnel!! Not Paramedic's!!!!! There is a difference a Big difference!!!!!
10/29/2009
And with all this not a single thing about the hiring of unquilified personnel by the Town of Cumberland!!!!!
10/29/2009
Missing in this article is the amount of income that the rescue service brings into the town coffers. Any thought of giving up the rescue service and bid the work out to private ambulance companies? No more equipment purchases, no more employees equals no more headaches!



