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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-12-13 SB Packetv. y Town of Reading Meeting Posting with Agenda fs3'+1NCOK4���`" Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Selectmen Date: 2017 -12 -13 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Public Library Location: Conference Room Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue Agenda: Purpose: Budget Meeting Meeting Called By: Caitlin Saunders on behalf of Chairman John Arena RK READING, ��I'ASS. 1011 DEC -1 P 31 t Notices and agendas are to be posted 48 hours in advance of the meetings excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Legal Holidays. Please keep in mind the Town Clerk's hours of operation and make necessary arrangements to be sure your posting is made in an adequate amount of time. A listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting must be on the agenda. All Meeting Postings must be submitted in typed format, handwritten notices will not be accepted. Topics of Discussion: 1) Reports and Comments a. Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments b. Public Comment C. Town Manager's /Assistant Town Manager's Report 2) Open Session for topics not reasonably anticipated 48 hours in advance of the meeting 3) Proclamations /Certificates of Appreciation 4) Personnel & Appointments 5) Discussion/Action Items a. FYI 9 Budget Review • Public Library • Public Safety — Fire/ EMS • Public Safety — Dispatch • Public Safety — Police • Public Safety — RCASA 6) Approval of Minutes 7) Licenses, Permits and Approvals 8) Executive Session 9) Correspondence 7:00 This Agenda has been prepared In advance and represents a listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting. However the agenda does not necessarily Include all matters which may be taken up at this meeting. Page I i Reading Fire Department FY 19 Budget The Reading Fire Department is responsible for four major functions: fire suppression, fire prevention, the emergency medical system and emergency management. The Fire Department is also responsible to coordinate and apply for all reimbursements for State and Federal disaster declarations. Salary Bud1jet: The FY 19 salary budget request is for $4,961,750. This is an increase of 9.7% over the approved FY 18 salary budget. The Fire Department is requesting an increase of 4 additional Firefighters and an additional administrative secretary that will be shared with the Police Department. All non -union personnel salary has been calculated using the Town's pay and classification plan. We also have several personnel that are moving through the step system. Currently, we are in negotiations with union personnel and this has required estimates on pay and step increases. Expense Budget: The FY 19 expense budget request is for $224,500. This is an increase of 17.5% over the approved FY 18 expense budget. The expense budget has been increased to provide protective clothing and uniforms for the requested four additional Firefighters. The ALS Medical Supplies Account has been increased $7,000 due to increased costs of medications and disposable supplies. Firefighter Training has been increased $3,000. This account is used to renew paramedic and EMT licenses and to pay the tuition cost of outside training and recertification costs. It is important to note that $122,000 (54.3 %) of the requested expense budget is for ambulance and other emergency medical service costs that include: ambulance billing, EMS supplies, EMS licensing and medical control. Current Staffing Levels: The Department's 47 full time employees are organized around four Groups of eleven personnel (2 Officers and 9 Firefighters). Their primary focus is on delivery of emergency services. Administrative functions are performed by the Fire Chief,. Assistant Fire Chief, Fire Prevention Officer and Department Secretary. Each day the on duty shift staffs two engines, a ladder truck and an ambulance. Each group is supervised by a Captain who is the shift commander. Captains are responsible to respond to emergencies, deliver services, training, scheduling, equipment maintenance and routine fire prevention duties. The Lieutenants are responsible for supervision of the West Side Fire Station and the Firefighters who are assigned there. The Lieutenants are responsible to respond to emergencies, deliver services, training, equipment maintenance and routine fire prevention duties. To ensure each piece of fire apparatus has the personnel to operate it appropriately, the Fire Department has a minimum staffing level of 10 personnel per shift. It is important to note that when the Fire Prevention Officer is on duty that position is considered part of the minimum staffing level. Below is an organizational chart for the Department: Reading Fire Department Organizational Chart Chief of Department Assistant Chief Administrative I I I EMS Coordinator Assistant EMS Liaison Captain Day Group Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Officer p Captain Captain Captain Captain Fire Prevention Fire Alarm Lieutenant Lieutenant Lieutenant Lieutenant Division 9 Firefighters 9 Firefighters 9 Firefighters 9 Firefighters Request for Additional Staff: In August of 2017 an internal study was conducted to determine how the Reading Fire Department compares with the fire departments in the 25 Peer Communities identified by the Finance Committee. The goal of the study was to compare the Reading Fire Department to the comparable communities using a number of measurements to determine if additional staffing is warranted. A secondary goal was to look at development trends in Reading and potential development areas to predict future increases in call volume. This review indicated the Town of Reading is among the comparable communities with a higher level of population and we are on the lower level of staffing. The lower staffing levels included the comparison of total staffing, Firefighters per 1,000 population and in the numbers of supervisors. In addition to our comparable community data that we gathered, the Town of Reading Economic Development Action Plan 2016 -2022 created by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council was reviewed to offer insights to future development. We also reviewed a study of the Reading Fire Department that was conducted in 1987. This report is titled a Survey of the Reading Fire Department and was prepared by George Paul Fire Safety Consultants Inc. The George Paul report recommended the Department be increased by four Firefighter positions and when this report was written, the on duty group strength was the same as it is today. This report examined emergency response data for the years 1986 and 1987. At that time the emergency call volume was approximately 2,500 responses per year. Our current emergency responses exceed 3,500 per year. Since this report was written we have seen a 40% increase in call volume. The population for Reading listed in the report was approximately 24,000. (Paul, 1987), Since 1987 we have seen our population grow to 26,356. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council predicts a substantial need for housing and significant growth in the senior population of Reading in the near future. The trend of new growth consisting of multi -floor, multi -unit wood framed buildings and multi -floor, multi -unit wood framed mixed residential and commercial buildings is likely to continue. The factors of an increasing population, an increased senior population and an increase number of large residential buildings will combine to cause an increase in emergency medical and fire responses. Emergency Response: Many of the Fire Department's responses require more than one piece of fire apparatus on scene. These calls include emergency medical responses, fires, motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, hazardous materials incidents and flammable liquid spills. An example would be a motor vehicle accident on Route128 or Route 93; it is not unusual for the call to require the response of an engine, ladder truck and the ambulance. If there are significant injuries on scene, the call will require the entire shift to respond. For this calendar year, for the time period of January 1, 2017 to December 1, 2017, the Fire Department has responded to 3,543 emergency calls for assistance. Of these calls 2,026 involved some level of emergency medical responses. Data Reported to State Fire Marshal: All fire departments are required to report response data to the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal's Office. Reading's required reporting data from January 1, 2017 to December 1, 2017 includes 28 fires defined as structure fires, 9 fires in mobile equipment and 21 outside fires in addition to other responses. Below is a graph representing 1,068 other emergency responses types excluding medical aid responses: Malicious Call Fire Protection System Activatic Fire Responses by Type January 1, 2017 to December 1, 2017 Fires In Structures Investigate Smoke /Odors _ N Vehicle Fires Outside Fires Specialized Rescue Hazardous Condition Carbon Monoxide Assist Resident Emergency Medical Responses: Emergency medical responses are continuing to trend upward. The data from January 1, 2017 to December 1, 2017 reveals we responded to 2,073 emergency medical calls. When we compare the data for the same time period in calendar year 2016 we find the responses were 1,853. This represents an increase of 11.8% in EMS Responses from 2016 to 2017. Below is a graph representing EMS responses by type in calendar year 2017: Unconscious /Faintin g/Near- Fainting 7% Traumatic Injury 7% Traffic /Transportatio n Incident 9% A� Sick Person 2% 2017 Patient Care Report By Incident Type Unknown Well Person Check Problem /Person 3% / -,, Down No Other Appropriate Choice 6% Choking 3% Patient Demographics: Below are two graphs that provide demographic data of patients treated and transported from January 1, 2017 to December 1, 2017: Patients by Age Group Patients By Gender EMS Revenue: The Fire Department bills for ambulance transport services. Below is a graph that indicates the amount of ambulance revenue collected in the last eight fiscal years: Emergency Management The primary goal for Emergency Management is to identify areas of vulnerability to the community, to prepare for all disasters whether natural or manmade, to coordinate the response of a wide range of agencies and assist in the recovery phase. A secondary goal is to ensure the Town of Reading is in compliance with all Federal and State requirements to enable the community to remain eligible to receive reimbursement for Federal and State disaster declarations. The Fire Department is responsible to coordinate and apply for all reimbursements for State and Federal disaster declarations. Since 2001 we have seen an increase in storm events being eligible for reimbursements due to Federal disaster declarations. Over this period the Town of Reading and Reading Municipal Light Department have received a total of $1,393,577 in reimbursements for emergency response costs and damage to infrastructure. Below is a graph that indicates the event and amounts received from FEMA disaster declarations since 2001: 400,000 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 FEMA Reimbursements oo�S� oo�Sfi oo�Sfi ���oo 0400 0��5� 0��5� o��5fi o�hSfi ti ti ti boo Doti ti ti ti ti Conclusion: The Reading Fire Department as with other Town Departments has seen significant changes to our areas of responsibility. This is due to increases in population, changes in demographics, new development and changes to the world around us. This has resulted in increased demand for emergency responses and has also increased reporting responsibilities. These issues have also required the Fire Department to plan, develop and provide new training programs and also add equipment to our fire apparatus.