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Lanesborough Voters Reject Ambulance PlanBy Al Hartheimer - May 14, 2008
Lanesborough News
LANESBOROUGH — Voters dismissed an attempt to staff a full-time ambulance and went through the town budget line by line on Tuesday night.
The town meeting, attended by not more than 300 voters out of 2,200, called a halt at 11:15 p.m. after making it through only 15 questions on the 41-article warrant. The meeting was continued to tonight at 7, also at the elementary school.
Articles 4 and 5 would have provided salaries for two emergency medical technician's during the day on weekdays. The need for this was occassioned by the fact that one of the two ambulance companies that serviced Lanesborough in the past, American Medical Response, had stopped servicing Berkshire County on Jan. 1.
Since then, the town has paid for two EMTs to work days during the week. They have answered 34 calls since Jan. 1. Much concern was voiced that if someone needs an ambulance, delay can possibly be fatal.
However, the majority was not convinced that the remaining company, County Ambulance, could not provide the necessary service and that the town should spend some $54,000 on salaries. Both articles were defeated.
Also voted down was Article 10, which asked for $19,000 to upgrade software to support 50 to 60 computers donated by Williams College to Mount Greylock Regional High School.
Various arguments were advanced to justify that, for this item, Lanesborough pay the entire amount and Williamstown pay nothing, but the overwhelming sentiment was that both towns should pay a proportionate share.
During the budget debate, Police Chief Mark Bashara emotionally defended the proposed increase in Line Item 31, Police Department Salaries, from $311,236 to $335,748. The $24,512 increase was occassioned by the desire to replace some part-time police officers with a full-time officer. After much discussion, it was passed.
Council on Aging director's salary, Line Item 72, was proposed to be increased $4,575, from $14,925 to about $19,500. This represents an increase of an hour a day, four hours a week.
The objection was that the change in hours also change the part-time job to a full-time job and make the holder of the job eligible for benefits. The present holder, who puts in lots of extra hours already, does not need the benefits, but the concern was for whomever might hold this job in the future. The proposal was defeated.
All of the other articles were passed, including spending $27,500 on a site plan for the proposed senior center near Town Hall.
Additional information added on May 17:
Town meeting resumed with Article 16, a request to purchase a new police cruiser, at 7 on Wednesday night.
The Wednesday meeting was attended by 26 voters out of 2,200.
Articles 16 to 41 were considered, one by one. All articles were passed without amendment.
Near the end of the meeting, the Finance Committee decided to move $100,000 from free cash to be used to reduce the tax increase and to move $250,000 from free cash to the Stabilization Fund, which will then have a balance of about $450,000. The Free Cash Fund will then have a balance of about $156,000.
For the entire warrant, click here.
Information provided by Lanesborough Concerned Citizens Newsletter. To receive the weekly newsletter with more Lanesborough news, e-mail ahartheimer@yahoo.com. |
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