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Final #FinCom0511 budget hearing about to begin follow along with the agenda franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/…
J Gerra speaks up to break the record of no citizen comments #fincom0511 clarification on department line item vs town admin recommended budget, in March there was a $6m imbalance, now the imbalance has been removed
Increase in service demand, haven't been properly staffed for years, can't provide our patrol operations schedule with 2 over, i.e. to cover for normal illness, absences, etc. Great insight into the shift schedule and staffing issue, makes sense (slides coming)
Police presentation slides outlining the staffing issue photos.app.goo.gl/aTNXkpBvjedWPK… #fincom0510
Police exam used to get 200 or so candidates, recently only getting 49 or so #fincom0511
What else would he need? 2 more to get rid of the 'bad' shift, 2 others for pure traffic control, so four total; could use more beyond that but 4 would be realistic. #fincom0511
Next up, Fire Dept, Chief McLaughlin presenting his numbers and story; added the 'capital' items per request to the ops budget, an EMS captain who would be available to help with a 3rd ambulance, along with the other firefighter to help staff the 3rd ambulance #fincom0511
Additional staff to operate the 3rd ambulance for some periods, would help reduce some of the mutual aid calls, over 5,000 service call requests for first (but likely not last time). Response time is key. 2 active firefighters are EMTs not paramedics, likely to retire ...
12 to 18 months, and other than the Chief, all would be both firefighter and paramedic
Total would be 69, in a minimum best case world, adding 2 with this request; other fire depts are getting affected by the same ordering process that the Police Chief talked of
Total would be 69, in a minimum best case world, adding 2 with this request; other fire depts are getting affected by the same ordering process that the Police Chief talked of
Just over 50% of the calls in 2022 resulted in a ride to a hospital
Next up MECC regional dispatch
Next up MECC regional dispatch
Staffing at MECC also an issue, authorized for 30, currently at 24 with 6 in training
One dispatch also left to become a paramedic a good transition but would like to keep the muscle memory in house where possible
Only community of the 6 to create a savings account...
One dispatch also left to become a paramedic a good transition but would like to keep the muscle memory in house where possible
Only community of the 6 to create a savings account...
To prepare for the full assessment coming in next year's budget, we did and that will help.
Possible further expansion to include other dispatch coverage. #fincom05111 Jamie currently board head of the regional dispatch
Franklin provides 44% of the call volume
Possible further expansion to include other dispatch coverage. #fincom05111 Jamie currently board head of the regional dispatch
Franklin provides 44% of the call volume
Next up Building inspections, not the year over year changes, last year actually under 2 years ago
Animal control, joint agreement with Bellingham, we house they provide the rest so it coordinates well.
Motion to approve the joint budgets as presented, second, passes 8-0-1 (1 absent)
Slide on sharpening the pencil, in 2019 & 2020, the Town dipped into the stabilization fund for $1.9M to help the school balance the budget 
Next slide
Next slide, next steps
And importantly the real next steps...
The prop 2.5 primer as mentioned by Jamie (PDF download) mass.gov/doc/levy-limit…
Motion to adjourn, passes via roll call 8-0-1
That's all for tonight catch you next time!
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