Town Government

Would an Ambulance Fly Here?

The town has started to peek into the ambulance biz

By Sharon Bass

One of Mayor Craig Henrici's campaign promises was to create the town's first ambulance service. And, hopefully, it would be a moneymaker.

While Fire Chief Jim Leddy has just started looking into it, one thing seems pretty clear: the service probably won't be a moneymaker. With some smart planning and a shot of good luck, it could break even.

But Leddy said the worth of a municipally run ambulance is not the cash potential, but the community-good potential. Towns that run their own report high satisfaction among residents. They like that it's local and see familiar faces.

"We can't look at it as a revenue source, maybe the administration is," said Leddy. Hamden, like virtually all communities, has paramedics who handle medical emergencies. But since the town doesn't have an ambulance, it relies on an outside company to transport patients.

Leddy said a municipal ambulance service would be faster because "it's right in town and offers better service all around. The response back to me was very positive from the residents."

Also, fire departments report that most of their calls are for medical emergencies, not for fires. And many firefighters are also paramedics. In Hamden last year, Leddy said of the roughly 10,000 calls that came in, about 6,000 were for transports to a hospital and not fire related.

"I think if people think they're going to run it as a profit -- I don't think so," said Dan O'Brien, vice president of American Medical Response, the ambulance outfit Hamden uses. "If it's such a windfall why don't other communities do it? When towns start to think about this they tend to overestimate the revenue and underestimate the expense."

Of course, AMR has something to lose if Hamden starts its own service. In Greater New Haven, AMR also does New Haven, West Haven, East Haven, North Haven, Milford, Orange and Woodbridge.

O'Brien said 60 percent of Hamden's calls are paid by Medicare (federal dollars) and Medicaid (state and federal money). Ten percent are uncompensated, "which means you're not going to see a red cent," he said. And 30 percent have private insurance or pay out of pocket.

While AMR charges $440 for a basic life-support ambulance trip, it often gets less. O'Brien said Medicare reimburses 80 percent of $376.40 (Medicare and Medicaid have their own rate schedules) and $6.05 a mile. The patient is responsible for the other 20 percent. Medicaid pays $173 per trip and a little over $2 a mile, and the patient is not charged.

"This comes up every few years in municipalities across the state," said O'Brien. "But when they look at the costs to provide the services and what the potential revenues are …"

Wallingford has had a municipal ambulance service since 1924. In 1978, it became part of the fire department. Chief Peter Struble said the town handles about 50 percent of the hospital transports and Hunter's in Meriden does the other half.

The town of 46,000 owns three ambulances. One is staffed 24/7. The others are used as necessary, Struble said. Last year, there were 2,400 transports to hospitals, and another 500 ambulance calls for motor vehicle accidents and other incidents where no hospitalization was needed.

There are 22 paramedics and eight EMTs who run the service, the chief said. And there's a town ambulance committee that oversees the operation.

"We don't look at it as paying for itself or not paying for itself," said Struble. "This was set up to provide a service to the town of Wallingford. The intent was never to make money or pay for itself."

Collection rate is about 72 percent; the national average is 70 percent. Ambulance revenue goes into Wallingford's general fund, not to the fire department. In 2004-'05, it cost $804,673 to run the ambulances, and revenue was $852,727, said Struble.

"I believe the fire department should be in the emergency medical business. Wallingford's experience has been an excellent experience. It's the highest level of service you can get," said Struble.

Ditto in Branford.

"We do pride ourselves in the fact that because we are a municipal service, that we offer a little better service than a commercial service," said Branford Fire Chief Jack Ahern. "A little more in terms of compassion. They [paramedics] work in the town, some live in the town. It works very well."

The shoreline community of 30,000 has three ambulances and 22 paramedic/firefighters, he said. In '04-'05, revenue was $1 million and it cost over $1 million to operate. Ahern said he's not sure of the exact figure.

"It doesn't pay for itself," he said. But like his Wallingford counterpart, he said people like the local service. Branford got into the ambulance biz in the 1940s, which merged with the fire department in 1993.

"Fires are going down across the country but calls for service are going up because of medical emergencies. I think what you have to look at in Hamden is that they're sending paramedics out to these calls so why shouldn't they do the whole nine yards and transport them too and get that revenue for the town?" Ahern said.

Branford recently purchased a new ambulance for $129,000 -- unloaded. The medical equipment will run another $8,000 to $10,000. Hamden already has defibrillators, which cost about $20,000 apiece.

For the last year and a half, East Haven Fire Chief Doug Jackson said he's been contemplating an ambulance service.

"It's a concept that we're looking at. Taking a long, hard look at it. Looking at numbers," he said. "My primary objective is definitely not to produce revenue. AMR covers a lot of towns and the response times are not as good as we like. We're on scenes waiting sometimes. We can provide a little more personal service."

Jackson said even if he gets one going, the town would still use AMR for mass casualties "because they have a large pool of personnel and equipment."

As Jackson and Leddy are finding out, it's a complicated task. State licenses are needed. There is a hefty initial outlay for personnel and equipment. The service needs to be properly organized and administered.

"I have some reservations about it," said Jackson. "It's another whole business basically. There's a lot of ramifications. We are involved in a lot of things right now. We do more medical calls than fires, like everyone else. And we do a lot of community things."

Gualtieri's Really Not Going Anywhere

Board members speak out

By Sharon Bass

Fewer than 24 hours after the Legislative Council wiped out the library director's salary, the Library Board held an emergency meeting. While the Council voted 8-6 to yank Bob Gualtieri's pay, his board is not about to let him go.

"You can't run a library without a library director," said board member Evelyn Hatkin. "Can you run a fire department without a chief? Can you run a police department without a chief? You can't run a library without a chief."

At last Friday's board meeting, Hatkin and the others talked about what they could do to get back the funding for director Gualtieri's $69,380 job. It was agreed that board Chair Lester Hankin would seek help from Mayor Craig Henrici.

The Council got a report last Thursday morning -- the day they voted on the budget -- that the property-tax revenue for fiscal year '06-'07 had been overestimated by about $500,000. So Council Democrats caucused before the budget meeting that evening to make cuts. And Gualtieri got the ax.

Neither the library director nor the board knew it was coming.

"I was amazed. I was astounded," Hankin said, upon learning that Gualtieri's salary was eliminated from the budget. "He's a very good librarian, I can tell you. He does a lot of work." Hankin, who's served on the board about seven years, said he plans to set up a meeting with Henrici about Gualtieri.

"The library board definitely supports Bob and as far as I gather, the staff supports him,"
said Hatkin, who was a librarian for 40 years and has been on the board since last summer. "As far as I can tell from the meetings, he seems on top of everything. The reports that he gives us every month seem to be quite good. I'm impressed with him.

"The Board is hoping the Legislative Council will reconsider their vote," she added. "That's what we're hoping."

The Council is expected to take up the matter at the end of the month.

A message left last night at Henrici's home was not returned by deadline.

Hamden Educator Asks to Be Fire Chief

By Sharon Bass

A sixth resume for the top fire job hit Mayor Craig Henrici's desk last week. It was from Franz Douskey, a college professor and "freelance pallbearer" residing on Ives Street.

He said he applied for the $90,000-a-year position "because the standards were so low. This is a job everyone can handle. I mean it's a ceremonial position. All you have to do is stand at the reviewing stand, where dignitaries stand as a parade goes by, and raise your right arm."

Henrici has handpicked Assistant Fire Marshal Brian Badamo for fire chief -- an appointment many in and outside the fire department have publicly criticized.

Douskey said he's 84 but apparently feels fit enough to lead a firefighting force of 100 men and three women.

Here is the cover letter he submitted with his resume:

"May 8, 2006

To Whom It May Concern:

I am applying for the position of Fire Chief for the town of Hamden. True, I don't have any training, experience or qualifications; however, that could be viewed as a plus. Consider the fact that I don't have years of obsolete training and experience to overcome. Also, I think that the Hamden Fire Chief is mostly a ceremonial position. You get a nice red SUV and you can park anywhere. I think the only real thing you have to remember is to not park the fire engines too close to a fire. I think we lost one or two engines a few years ago this way.

Regarding any expertise and qualifications, I am certain that I can score at least 19 out of 19 on a lieutenant's exam, which is very close to the score received by the leading candidate. I think you get actual points if you spell lieutenant correctly, so my score might end up being higher than 19 out of 19.

Of course, I haven't abducted anyone, but if that is one of the job requirements, I am willing to give it a try. Please advise.

I enclose my resume, which clearly shows that I am unfettered by the confines of experience, qualifications and expertise.

Also, I am certain that I can obtain letters of reference from Joseph McDonagh, who has something to do with one of the political parties in Hamden. And I think [Councilman] Matthew Fitch would write a letter of support. After all, I taught him much of what he knows about politics, as well as diners.

Anxiously awaiting your phone call, I remain

Most Sincerely,

Franz Douskey"

Asked if Douskey's resume would be considered, the mayor said, "No comment."

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The Book's Not Closed on Gualtieri

By Sharon Bass

Though the Legislative Council killed the library director's salary Thursday night, it didn't necessarily kill him. Bob Gualtieri is not going anywhere very fast.

"The Council went well beyond its legal authority," said Councilman John Flanagan.

Gualtieri's salary line has been whitened out, but it's up to the Library Board to actually fire him. Plus, thought is the Council will likely vote on the item again. According to the Town Charter, the board hires and fires and the Council creates and dissolves positions.

The reason given for the slash Thursday evening -- when the budget was voted on -- was the last-second revelation that property-tax revenue had been overestimated by about a half-million dollars, and more budget cuts had to be made.

A message left for Gualtieri was not returned.

Councilwoman Berita Rowe-Lewis, who made the official motion to eliminate the director's $69,380 salary, said it was her idea. She said it wasn't personal. It could have been anyone.

"I thought it was a feasible idea to cut some money," she said. "It was a position I looked at. No particular reason why. It was my choosing. The library could be well served with the person second in command." Rowe-Lewis said $28,000 of the $69,380 goes into the library's overtime account, and the rest is returned to the general fund. She said she got a couple of messages yesterday from Library Board members while she was at work.

Rowe-Lewis' motion passed 8-6. Councilman John Flangan was one of the six. And he said it was personal.

"I think there are some people who had difficulties with Gualitieri. But I think it was handled entirely wrong [Thursday] night. I think they should have had a meeting with the library board," he said.

"It was little boys [certain councilmen] playing a game. I think there were some people who looked at this as an opportunity to get rid of somebody they don't like," said Flanagan. He added that he's "quite sure this will wind up in litigation if we don't reverse what was done [Thursday] night. Especially since it was an 8-6 vote."

"This issue is going to be brought back to the table by the end of this month," said Councilwoman Carol Noble, one of the eight. "They [councilpeople] just did it and walked out [Thursday] night. Now they will have time to spend the weekend thinking about their actions. Maybe next week they'll think what to do."

The Council can change anything in the budget up until June 30, when the fiscal year ends.

"But you try not to do anything drastic because it impacts on the mil rate," said Noble. "So if we are to put the job back in, we would have to find the money." She agreed that adding or subtracting $69K would not alter the new 27.95 mil rate.

Like Flanagan, Noble said the vote to end Gualtieri's salary was personal -- not the random act Rowe-Lewis described.

"I'm afraid I was listening to a couple of constituents who said he wasn't doing a good job," said Noble. "I have constituents who are upset because they lost their Sunday hours. And I had to tell them that the director was having difficulty getting people to work on Sundays."

And the councilwoman said reports about Gualtieri's work performance from the Council's Recreation & Culture Committee -- which she, Flanagan and Rowe-Lewis sit on -- have been negative

"They don't feel like he does his job. That he sits around and does nothing," Noble said.

When the Council reduced the library's overtime hours last month -- effectively ending Sunday hours -- a large sign was placed in front of Miller Library blaming the Council. Noble said Gualtieri was asked to remove it but he wouldn't. There was also a notice on the library's Web site saying the same thing, which has since been removed.

Some give Gualtieri a good review. Yesterday, a library staff member called Noble. "She was very upset that he was removed from his position. She felt he does his job quite well and follows process and procedure. How could this happen," she said.

Noble said axing the library director was not her first choice.

"We were looking for money [Thursday night]," said Noble. "We were only looking for $500,000. Mine and John Flanagan's suggestion was to take it from the Board of Ed. I would like to know why Curt [Leng] continually defends the Board of Ed. Only 12 percent of Hamden residents send their kids to school. Now you have to deal with 88 percent more people."

Hamden's New Mil Rate: 27.95

After much last-minute finagling, the Council axes the library director and passes a $163.6 million budget

By Sharon Bass

Learning at the 11th hour that $600,000 had to be shaved from the budget, the Town Council made some rapid cuts last night before voting on the 2006-07 budget.

The ouchiest cut was library director Bob Gualtieri. His job will end June 30. The reason for the slashes -- $100,000 was taken from the Board of Education; $200,000 from debt service; $50,000 from workers' comp; etc. -- was a revenue oversight.

Another one.

This year's budget makers did not take into consideration that low-income elderly and disabled Hamdenites get a property-tax reduction under the state's circuit breaker program, and erroneously figured in their taxes at the regular rate. Town Assessor Jim Clynes discovered the mistake yesterday morning, said Council President Al Gorman.

So was the theme of this budget season.

In early April, the town realized that Gov. Rell's car-tax elimination proposal was going nowhere. But the $11.7 million Hamden expected to get from the state in lieu of car taxes was already factored into the budget. And because the mil rate would drop due to the property revaluation, less would be collected on cars than the state would have sent -- leaving the town with a $3.7 million hole.

As councilmembers echoed at budget deliberations this spring, it's been hell. Taxes will skyrocket for most homeowners. And some might not be able to foot their bills.

"This is going to be the year where the straw broke the camel's back," said Councilman John Flanagan.

Few spoke favorably of the '06-'07 budget they were about to vote on last night.

"I can't tell you how disappointed I am in this," said Councilwoman Betty Wetmore. "I would like to say we cut millions of dollars but we didn't. The mayor did with his revised budget [post-car-tax flop].

"I think we over-inflated our revenue. I think we fooled ourselves all along," she said.

Wetmore voted against the $163,632,938 budget -- up $10.6 million from last year. She also voted against the new tax rate of 27.95. One mil in Hamden is now worth about $4 million. The current mil rate is 43.24, but was destined to plummet after last fall's revaluation which jacked home values up an average of 89 percent. Next fiscal year's tax bills are guaranteed to jump quite significantly, even with the lower mil rate.

Councilwoman Carol Noble voted for the budget and tax rate but said she wasn't thrilled with either.

"I think another cut to the Board of Education could have been made. It's the taxes we have to be concerned about," she said. "It's the senior citizens. It's the young families. I know I'm a retired teacher. But there are some times when you have to do tough love and say no."

Flanagan couldn't agree more.

"This is insanity," he said. "We're further cannibalizing the town side. I think another $2 million from the school budget could be cut. We're going into debt service [to make reductions]. Going back again and again. The well is running dry on the town side."

Councilwoman Berita Rowe-Lewis made the motion to strike Gualtieri's $69,380 job and put that money back into the library's overtime account. The Council had earlier cut that account, effectively closing Miller Library on Sundays.

Flanagan and Wetmore both voiced discontent with the proposal. "Just because you don't like someone doesn't mean you cut their job," said Flanagan. The measure passed 9-4 with one abstention (Councilman Ron Gambardella was absent).

"I'm sorry for some of the snap decisions we made, such as what just happened," said Wetmore. "I am not proud of what we came up with."

"I'm ashamed of this budget," said Flanagan. "I'm going to vote no."

Councilman Curt Leng said he was poised to vote in favor of the new budget. Until yesterday, when the $600,000 boo-boo was unearthed.

"This Council cut over a million from the budget. But we didn't cut enough," he said. "The tax rate is too high. Next year's going to be worse."

Still, some felt they'd done a good job.

"This is honest. It balances," said Councilman Matt Fitch. "We are paying the bills we have to pay. I think this is the very best budget we could present tonight."

Yes, said Councilman Mike Germano.

"We're finally cleaning up our act. I'm proud we put $9 million in the pension fund instead of $6 million or $3 million," he said. "We worked a month and a half. We went line by line and cut everything we could."

"Obviously this is a budget that pleases no one, but we have to pass a budget," said Council Prez Al Gorman. "I hope we can pass the budget tonight."

Rowe implored her colleagues to "take the responsibility [of approving the budget]. We worked hard."

It passed 11-3. Flanagan, Wetmore and Leng opposed.

Residents against the $163.6 million bill have 21 days to submit a petition to the town to take the budget to referendum.

In the end, 16 town departments got cut. And the BOE got roughly a 7 percent increase over last year, or $3.5 million more.

At the onset of last evening's meeting, Council regulars Don Werner and Meg Nowacki spoke.

"I think the mayor gave you a bare-bones budget," said Werner of Mix Avenue. "It's going to take us a long time to catch up with deficit funds. So I know there's going to be a lot of angst when you present the mil rate."

Nowacki, a police commissioner, scolded the legislative body. She said some of the behavior during the last three weeks of budget deliberations was unacceptable. She also said the school budget is too high.

"I think the Board of Education can sustain a larger cut in their request," Nowacki said. "Everyone needs to learn how to be more stringent."

A woman from Gaylord Mountain Road nervously walked to the podium, carrying the blue budget book.

"These are very difficult times. I want the education money going to the children, not to high salaries and extra perks," she said. "I'm told everything is contractual [administrators' salaries and raises] and their hands are tied. I've been saying this for 35 years. When do the contracts end?

"Every administration says it's the past administration's fault. There are limits. This is sort of like an eminent domain thing, because people have to leave their homes if they can't pay their taxes.

"I want you to think about what this budget is going to do to everyone."
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Hard to Get Close

The back of the monument. Photo/Sharon Bass

Town plans to make it easier to reach the veterans' monument

By Sharon Bass

Getting to the Veterans' Memorial Monument is not easy. For people who are disabled, it's a major struggle if not an impossible one. Because of the middle school construction, folks have to park on Dixwell Avenue and walk up the grassy incline to reach it.

But that's all supposed to be resolved, said Councilman Curt Leng, who chairs the School Building Committee. He just doesn't know when.

There's $100,000 in the middle school building budget to "enhance" the monument, said Leng. The money is earmarked for design and construction. Plans call for a walkway to the monument, a curb cut -- so people who use wheelchairs can get onto the existing sidewalk to get to the walkway -- exterior lighting and landscaping. There will also be a handicapped-parking area in the bus loop, which runs right behind the monument. When buses are in the loop, parking won't be allowed. Parking will also be prohibited on Dixwell Avenue once the monument improvements are done, said Leng.

"Not everybody's going to be happy [with the design], but I still think it's a very nice centerpiece memorial for the town. My grandfather is on there," he said. He was Andrew Balzano, a World War II vet.

"We need to have a meeting and work out the details," said Council Prez and SBC member Al Gorman. He said there'd also be an informal meeting with veterans about the accessibility design.

"I don't want it to be constructed without veteran input," said Leng. "I would like the public to see it. But the town administration may not go along with that."

Tai Soo Kim, the architectural firm that designed the middle school, will update a conceptual drawing that was done two years ago for the monument. Leng said the update should cost nothing. "The last one was done for free. They've been very helpful," he said.

Gorman said the reason the work wasn't done before -- for instance, making the curb cut when the new sidewalk was laid -- is there was no plan in place.

"It was a little more than just say, 'Let's do it.' We had to check it out and make sure we could actually do it. The problem has been solved and the handicapped veterans will be able to get close to the monument," he said.

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May 9, 2006

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May 5, 2006

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May 4, 2006

May 2, 2006

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