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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes03052008-20080418112956 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 5, 2008 Present: Chairman Louis Amoruso, Clerk Ann Baldwin, Selectman David McCarter, Selectman a'George Dentino, John D'Agostino, Town Manager The Board of Selectmen's meeting was called to order at 7:30pm followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. B~~S~rlifClj Dr. John Chessare, Caritas Norwood Hospital President and Jim Sheehan, Community Relations, gave a short overview of the services available at the hospital and its' affiliate sites. Pedi emergency center 24/7 staffed with Children's Hospitals Doctors. 24/7 intensive care unit in addition to ER. Digital mammogram services are now available at Foxboro Health Center site. .;.. Selectman McCarter asked why health care costs have really skyrocketed in recent years. Dr. Chessare stated that the proliferation of "for profit" ambulatory centers in this area have made a significant increase in the cost of health care premiums. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a dense population of hospitals and health care services available. However, all the hospitals/centers charge different rates and some are considerably more, hence your health care dollar is not always used wisely. Scott Leite, Health Agent and Town Manager D'Agostino made presentation on the changes that have occurred over the years in the public health field. . Responsible to enforce MA General Laws . State Sanitary Codes (5 different ones) . State Environmental Codes (2) . Local Board of Health regulations . Works extensively with DPH Center for Emergency Preparedness. Also works with the Dept. of Public Health (DPH) and Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding local investigations. Selectman Dentino asked what the current grade and step the position is. It is J3. Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 5, 2008 A lengthy discussion ensued on what classification the Health Agent was, currently is, and should be. Selectman McCarter and Chairman Amoruso asked if the board was suppose to be looking only at the revised job description that was before them? Mr. D'Agostino answered yes, the board is being asked to approve the job description and it is his job by charter to determine which grade/class the position belongs in. Chairman Amoruso asked why the agent is not looking for an assistant. With all of the additional responsibilities' the agent has, it would seem that he would need one. There are a lot of extra responsibilities' and duties that would be required at certain times, and in those cases the Board of Health, a core of volunteers and public safety staff would assist in those cases. The educational requirements of the job description where discussed and the following changes made. Minimum Qualifications High School graduate changed to Bachelors degree required. "Seven years of progressively responsible experience in public works construction and maintenance programs" was stricken as it should not have been there. Ability to oversee and administer other employees/volunteer staff. "Special Conditions" section of job description was removed. Motion: Move to approved job description with changes as discussed. The position will be classified as a "J" in the supervisory union contract. (Baldwin/McCarter) 3:0:1 passes (Dentino abstains) Fire Chief Neal Boldrighini and Comstar Rep. Rick Martin were in attendance. Overview of what Comstar through the Fire Dept has collected in receipts. There was also a brief discussion of lingering debt from years past. Selectman Dentino is uncomfortable writing off debt but the board has been told that such old debt is no longer collectable. Since 2000 the fire dept. has responded to 11,299 medical runs. The dept. has averaged 1412 medical runs per year, 118 per month. The total billed during this time was approx. $4,100,947. Of that, approx. $3,500,947 was collected. This is nearly an 85'Yo collection rate during that time period. This has left $600,000 uncollected over 10 years or 120 months. This further breaks down to some $5,000 per month or approx. 4 transports, uncollected for this period. Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 5, 2008 2 There are multiple reasons for non-collection such as no insurance, bad information given, transients, litigation, Medicare paid all they will. Mr. Martin is an accountant as well as a Comstar Representative and recommends that the Board write off old debt that has been deemed "uncollectable". Without doing this the accounts receivables numbers can grow and become unmanageable. Selectman Baldwin wants the board to implement a policy tonight that would authorize Chief Boldrighini to write off periodic bad debt. Selectman McCarter asked Mr. Martin how Mansfield's collection policy rates with other towns. Mr. Martin responded that the town is "middle of the road" in that some towns are more lenient and some are more stringent. He also stated that most towns do have a point person, such as a fire chief, that is allowed to write off these uncollectables. Selectman Dentino asked Chief Boldrighini to clarify what his authority is. The chief determines which bills are to be deemed uncollectable but he is currently not authorized to write the debt off. Selectman Dentino asked Mr. Martin if a run sheet is given to the collection agency. No, only the pertinent billing information from the patient is passed on. Selectman Dentino went on to state that the board voted in 2004 to begin using a collection agency to collect unpaid debt. However, this did not occur until 2006 for some reason. Selectman Baldwin reiterated that once truly uncollectable debt is written off the current debt will be easier to manage, track and account for. Mr. Martin concurred that from an accounting standpoint this is correct. Chairman Amoruso reviewed the current procedures with Mr. Martin and Chief Boldrighini and asked if there was any way to decrease the time allowed for billing/collection. Mr. Martin stated that the process could be sped up by shortening the time cycle for collection or cut out a billing reminder letter from 3 letters over 3 months to 2 letters over 2 or 3 months. Motion: To change billing policy from 30 days to 20 days per letter. (Baldwin) motion tabled for research by the Chief. None Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 5, 2008 3 · Tomorrow, March 6th an IMA meeting will be held here at 6pm. . On March 10th, a south coast rail project meeting will be held at Thatcher Elementary School in Attleboro. · On March 18th, Rotary Club will be hosting a senior citizen's luncheon at the COA 11:45pm. · On March 20th, the Town Manager's COA coffee hour will be at lOAM. . April 12th, the Elk's breakfast is scheduled from 7:30am-1O:30am at N. Main St. . Warrant No. 36 in the amount of $3,129,119.67 Motion: To approve warrant No. 36 in the amount of $3,129,119.67 (McCarter/Baldwin) (Mr. McCarter abstaining from check # 380846) 4:0:1 passes (Dentino abstains) · Minutes of February 6, 2008 Board of Selectmen meeting. Motion: Move to approve (McCarter/Baldwin) 4:0 passes . Minutes of February 13, 2008 Board of Selectmen meeting. Motion: Move to approve (McCarter/Baldwin) 4:0 passes · Application for Entertainment License from Casey O'Conors Discussion with Mr. Burns about what he would like to do with license. He would like to provide entertainment on weekends, special occasions and holidays. Motion: To approve license. (McCarter/Baldwin) 4:0 passes · 2008 Water Connection Policy from Kurt Gaffney, Water Operations Manager. Motion: Move to approve. (McCarter/Baldwin) 4:0 passes · Letter from SE Regional Superintendent Luis Lopes regarding FY09 budget. Preliminary budget is $22,636,533. He will be coming to present budget to board on March 26th. · Letter from SRPEDD regarding FY09 assessment. The town will pay $3,620.53 for its services to the community this coming year. Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 5, 2008 4 · Letter from Tetra Tech Operations Manager Walter Bakowski. Their Vice President and Mansfield resident (Rick Gleason) recently passed away and they would like to place a memorial tree or bench on one of the town commons or other town owned land to honor his memory. Motion: To place bench on N. Common (McCarter/Dentino) 4:0 passes Selectmen's Old ew.. Business · Old business from Chairman Amoruso: None . Old business from Selectman Dentino: Lights on MBT A lot. (Inbound side of bridge.) The overpass is partially dark and needs additional lighting. Lights are continually out on the under pass as well. Also questions on Verizon carriage of HD channels from Boston to be included in Verizon contract. · Old business for Selectman McCarter: None . Old business for Selectman Baldwin: Fire personnel do not want to have the town seal on their cars. People have approached them at home as they see the town seal and ask them questions. Mr. D'Agostino has asked that the fire chief submit a letter requesting such and he will bring it to the board for consideration. Motion: To have seals removed from fire chief and Dep. Chief (McCarter/Baldwin). Motion withdrawn · Old business for Selectman Levine: Not present · New business from Selectman Baldwin: None · New business for Selectman McCarter: None · New business from Selectman Dentino: None · New business from Selectman Levine: Not present · New business from Chairman Amoruso: None Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 5, 2008 5 A(ifrf9 Motion: To adjourn at 1O:50PM (Baldwin) 5-0 Passes ~'??1~e:nd' $~UwPn- Signature of Clerk '??1e:n~ 2~ 2~~~ Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 5, 2008 . 6