The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2025-08-26 Select Board Packet (PDF) Town of Reading Meeting Posting with Agenda 2018-07-16LAG Board -Committee -Commission -Council: Select Board Date: 2025-08-26Time: 7:00PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Select Board Meeting Room Address: 16 Lowell StreetAgenda: Purpose:General Business Meeting Called By:Madeleine Baptiste on behalf of Chair Chris Haley Notices and agendas are to be posted 48 hours in advance of the meetings excluding 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 notbe accepted. Topics of Discussion: \\~~{ Bs~|¯ PAGE # Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85159621459 MeetingID: 851 5962 1459 Dial by your location Pledge of Allegiance ¤¯ Overview of Meeting Public Comment (For any items not included on the agenda) ¤¯¢ Town Manager Report ¤¯¢ Community Spotlight ¤¯ Discuss and Vote on Overdose Awareness Proclamation ¤¯¢ Annual Update from Reading Ice Arena Authority ¤¯ ¢ Discuss Potential Override/Budget Review Fire Department Permit and ¥¯ Ambulance Fees (Recurring Discussion) 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 | 1 Town of Reading Meeting Posting with Agenda Update on Charter Review Committee and Discuss Public Hearing ¥¯¢ Select Board Liaison Reports ¦¯¢ Future Agendas ¦¯¢ Discuss and Vote to Approve Meeting Minutes ¦¯ August 5, 2025 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 | 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 HEADQUARTERS READING FIRE DEPARTMENT Reading, Massachusetts 01867 RICHARD NELSON, Chief 757 Main Street Phone: 781-944-3132 TO: Mr. Matthew Kraunelis, Town Manager FROM:Chief Richard Nelson DATE: August 20, 2025 RE:Ambulance Billing Fee Recommendation I have gathered rates from nine other MetroFire departments that bill for medical services. In addition, I have received information from New England Medical Billing, our billing company, explaining how the majority of their customers are billing. The data shows that we bill the lowest of all nine other communities. We also found that most of the other communities have moved to a “bundled” billing system. Under a bundled rate system, the ambulance provider only bills for the level of service such as Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support 1, Advanced Life Support 2, and a transport milage charge. The transport milage charge is calculated based on the distance the ambulance travels from the patient’s location to the hospital. Currently, we charge a rate for the level of service and bill for other services provided such as oxygen, defibrillator, intravenous therapy, cardiac monitor, etc. Speaking with our billing company, they also recommend the bundled billing system. Insurance companies are always trying to reduce payments. By billing separate line items, it gives them more of an opportunity to refuse payment. With the bundled system they get one line item increasing the average payment. Additionally, ambulances can “balance bill.” This means that when the insurance company refuses to pay any line item, that balance is then billed to the patient. Under the bundled system, this is unlikely to happen. This will reduce the medical bills that our patients receive. After a review of the data, I recommend Reading adopt a bundled rate system and increase the rates charged for emergency medical treatment and transportation. This chart provides the average charges from all nine communities, highest charges for the level of service and the lowest charge for the level service, Reading’s charges and a recommended Reading fee structure. Our billing company recommends that we charge the Medicare rate x 300% as many of their customers do. Some charge the Medicare rate x $350%. The fee at 300% is listed under “option B” in the chart. I am recommending the Medicare rate x 250%, bringing us just above the average. Using the 300% would result in us billing the highest out of the nine communities. 19 Service DescriptionAverageHighestLowest Reading Recommended Option B BLS Transport$ 1,626$ 1,999$ 850$ 850$ 1,777$ 2,032 ALS 1 Transport$ 2,088$ 2,475$ 1,100$ 1,100$ 2,111$ 2,413 ALS 2 Transport$ 2,691$ 3,200$ 1,500$ 1,500$ 3,055$ 3,491 Mileage$ 0.37$ 0.60$ 0.15$ 0.35$ 0.40$ 0.50 medicare + 250%medicare + 300% Last fiscal year we transported and billed 1,624 patients. Of these patients 52% were treated at the Advanced Life Support level and 48% were Basic Life Support level. It is important to note that if we increase our ambulance rates, we will only generate increased revenue from patients who have private insurance or self-pay. The increased ambulance rates will not increase revenue from patients who are covered by Medicare or Mass Medicaid because we are required to accept their rates for services. Those rates are provided below: Service DescriptionMedicare Rate BLS Transport$ 507.92 ALS 1 Transport$ 603.16 ALS 2 Transport$ 872.19 Mileage$ 8.97 43% of billing was billed through Medicare/MassHealth, the remaining 57% was private insurance or self-pay. Our FY 25 collection rate was 48% of billed services. There are many variables that affect collection rates with monthly swings in FY 25 from 26% to as high as 63%. Below is an estimate of the effect of changing to the recommended rates. BilledCollected / Revenue 2025 Actual$ 2,020,456.00$ 969,818.88 2025 Estimated$ 2,525,155.85$ 1,212,074.81 Collection Rate48% It is important to point out that we pay a fee of 4% of the collected revenue to our billing provider. Since FY 23 we have exceeded this line item due to higher collections. For FY 26 we increased the expense line item in the Fire Department budget from $37,000 (4% of $925,000) to $39,000 (4% of $975,000) to adjust for the increased collections. If the collections were to increase to $1,200,000, the 4% fee would increase to $48,000. An adjustment to the Ambulance Billing Services expense line item would be required to offset the change. I have included the ambulance billing data for the other nine communities for your review. 20 CMT!BMT!2!BMT!3!Njmfbhf! CvoemfeUsbotqpsuUsbotqpsuUsbotqpsuQfs!Njmf Efqbsunfou CfmnpouZft%!!!!!2-:::%!!!!!3-586%!!!!!3-:61%!!!!!!!!51 MfyjohupoZft%!!!!!2-811%!!!!!3-311%!!!!!4-111%!!!!!!!!47 MzooZft%!!!!!2-611%!!!!!3-211%!!!!!3-611%!!!!!!!!71 OffeibnZft%!!!!!2-341%!!!!!2-746%!!!!!3-616%!!!!!!!!26 Op!ObnfZft%!!!!!2-811%!!!!!3-411%!!!!!4-311%!!!!!!!!49 SboepmqiOp%!!!!!2-127%!!!!!2-317%!!!!!2-856%!!!!!!!!33 XbufsupxoZft%!!!!!2-:::%!!!!!3-586%!!!!!3-:61%!!!!!!!!51 XftupoZft%!!!!!2-8:2%!!!!!3-516%!!!!!4-183%!!!!!!!!52 XpcvsoZft%!!!!!2-811%!!!!!3-111%!!!!!3-411 BWFSBHF%!!!!!2-737%!!!!!3-199%!!!!!3-7:2%!!!!!!!!48 SfbejohOp%!!!!!!!!961!%!!!!!2-211%!!!!!2-611%!!!!!!!!46 21 HEADQUARTERS READING FIRE DEPARTMENT Reading, Massachusetts 01867 RICHARD NELSON, Chief 757 Main Street Phone: 781-944-3132 TO: MatthewKraunelis, Town Manager FROM: Richard Nelson, Fire Chief DATE: August 20, 2025 RE: Fire Department Permit Fee Schedule The Fire Department’s fees have not been updated since 2010. I have conducted an audit of other departments in the area to compare our fees. I recommend that we make modifications to the existing fee schedule. The recommendations will include increases tosome fees as well as the addition of permit fees for items that we now permit per Fire Code since 2010. Permits issued by the Fire Department are regulated by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 148 Section 10A. This law allows the Selectboardto set the following maximum fees: A maximum permit fee of up to $50 may be charged for each permit issued. The fee for smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm inspections may be increased up to the following maximum fee: o Single dwelling unit $50 o 2- Family Dwelling $100 o 6 or fewer residential units $150 o 7 or more residential units $500 Permit Fees I looked at permit fees for eight other communities. In general,we are below the average fee collected. With the exception of smoke detector inspections, I am not recommending anything increase above $50. There are a couple permits that we no longer issue to be removed. In addition, we no longer charge for plan review, these fees are built into the Building Permit Fee. New Permits Since the adoption of NFPA 1 in 2015 for our Fire Code, permitting requirements have changed. We are now permitting items that were not required previously. As we have added these permits we were only able to charge the $15 “Special” fee. I am recommending that these items be added to the fee schedule with increased fees to align with other communities. 22 Potential Result In 2024 the Fire Department issued 698 permits. $15,945 in fees were collected as a result. Under the new schedule $30,110 would have been collected in fees. Recommendations The chart below shows the current 2010 rate with a suggested 2025 rate. Changes are highlighted in yellow. Fees that would be new to the schedule are highlighted and labeled. There are two permits that I recommend changing the title to more accurately reflect modern terminology highlighted in blue. 2010 2025 Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Permits Residential Fire Alarm System Installation existing$15.00 $50.00 Single Family existing$25.00 $50.00 Two Units existing$50.00 $100.00 Three to Six Units existing$150.00 $150.00 Seven or More Units existing$500.00 $500.00 Re-inspection Fee newnew $50.00 Permits Blasting existing$50.00 $50.00 Fireworks existing$50.00 $50.00 Flammable and Combustible Storage existing$25.00$50.00 Gun Powder existing$15.00 $25.00 Oil Burner Installations existing$25.00 $50.00 Oil line, Install New Overhead existing$20.00 $0.00 Propane (Above and Below Ground) existing$25.00 $50.00 Special (Tents, Tar Kettles) - Rename "General Fire"existing$15.00 $25.00 Sprinkler Permit existing$15.00 $25.00 Tank Truck Parking Permit existing$25.00 $50.00 Tank Truck Permit existing$50.00 $0.00 Welding and Cutting - Rename "Hot Work"existing$25.00 $50.00 Open Burning (Jan 1 -May 1 - 2 days of burning)new$15.00 $15.00 Energy Storage Systems new$15.00 $50.00 Alcohol Hand Cleaner Storage (>10 gal) new$15.00 $25.00 Cannon or Mortar Firing new$15.00 $25.00 Sprinkler System Permit new$15.00 $50.00 23 Tank installation Renew Underground Storage Tanks (per tank) existing$25.00 $50.00 Install Aboveground Storage Tank existing$25.00 $50.00 Install Underground Storage Tank existing$50.00$50.00 Tank Removal Above Ground existing$25.00 $50.00 Tank Removal Below Ground existing$50.00$50.00 Plan Review Residential existing$15.00 $0.00 Commercial Plan review less than 7,500 square feet existing$25.00 $0.00 Commercial Plan review 7,500 to 12,499 existing$50.00 $0.00 Commercial Plan review 12,500 or greater existing$100.00 $0.00 Quarterly Inspections Nursing Home existing$40.00 $40.00 Inspections Certificate of Occupancy Inspection newnew $25.00 Food Truck Inspection new$15.00 $25.00 Municipal Fire Alarm Permit to Connection to Municipal Fire Alarm System existing$50.00 $50.00 Fire Alarm Disconnect and Reconnect existing$10.00 $10.00 Fire Alarm Malfunction Excess Alarm Fee (After Six (6) Alarms per year existing$25.00 $50.00 24 September 9, 2025 Pledge of Allegiance 7:00 Overview of Meeting Public Comment (for any items not 7:05 included on the agenda) 7:15 Town Manager Report Community Spotlight Discuss and Vote on 413 Main Street McDonalds Early Opening Update from Reading Food Pantry Discuss Establishment of a Commission on Disabilities in Reading 15 mins Preview Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant Select Board Liaison Reports Future Agendas Approve Meeting Minutes Possible Executive Session : Facilities Union Rosh Hashanah (Move Meeting?) September 23, 2025 Pledge of Allegiance 7:00 Overview of Meeting Public Comment (for any items not 7:05 included on the agenda) Town Manager Report 7:15 Community Spotlight Close Warrant: Subsequent Town Meeting Select Board Liaison Reports Future Agendas Approve Meeting Minutes October 7, 2025 7:00 Pledge of Allegiance Overview of Meeting Public Comment (for any items not included on the agenda)7:05 7:15 Town Manager Report Community Spotlight Select Board Liaison Reports Future Agendas Approve Meeting Minutes October 21, 2025 Pledge of Allegiance 7:00 Overview of Meeting 25 Public Comment (for any items not included on the agenda)7:05 7:15 Town Manager Report Community Spotlight Select Board Liaison Reports Future Agendas Approve Meeting Minutes November 4, 2025 7:00 Pledge of Allegiance Overview of Meeting Public Comment (for any items not included on the agenda)7:05 7:15 Town Manager Report Community Spotlight Review 2026 Meeting Schedule Select Board Liaison Reports Future Agendas Approve Meeting Minutes November 10, 2025Town Meeting November 13, 2025Town Meeting November 17, 2025Town Meeting November 20, 2025Town Meeting December 2, 2025 Pledge of Allegiance 7:00 Overview of Meeting Public Comment (for any items not 7:05 included on the agenda) Town Manager Report 7:15 Community Spotlight Approve Annual Licenses Select Board Liaison Reports Future Agendas Approve Meeting Minutes December 3, 2025 Pledge of Allegiance 7:00 Overview of Meeting Public Comment (for any items not 7:05 included on the agenda) Town Manager Report 7:15 Community Spotlight Budget Presentations Select Board Liaison Reports Future Agendas Approve Meeting Minutes December 9, 2025 26 7:00 Pledge of Allegiance Overview of Meeting Public Comment (for any items not included on the agenda)7:05 7:15 Town Manager Report Community Spotlight Budget Presentations Select Board Liaison Reports Future Agendas Approve Meeting Minutes 27 28 29 30 28 29 From:Rebecca Liberman To:RMLD BoC; Reading - Selectboard Subject:Please do a better job of notifying RMLD customers and Reading residents about Shred the Peak times Date:Tuesday, August 5, 2025 4:37:40 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Town of Reading's email system. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender's email address and know the content is safe. Dear RMLD Board of Commissioners and Select Board Members, I urge you to send out Shred the Peak alerts to all customers, instead of just to the select few who opt in, as well as through the townwide alert system. The current system requires customers to opt in to get these alerts. This makes no sense, since reducing use during peak times benefits all of us. And at the same time, I urge you to do a better job in promoting RMLD programs that can help reduce our town's emissions and reliance on fossil fuels, like reminding people about Renewable Choice, Solar Choice, and other programs at the same time that the Shred the Peak alerts go out. Lastly, I urge you to find a way to provide instant rebates for efficient window air conditioning units and central air systems as another way to reduce use on hot summer days. Please let me know what you will do to help Reading do a better job at Shredding the Peak and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. Thank you. Rebecca Liberman 50 Pratt St. Reading, MA 30