Billing Victims And Stopping Skateboarding - Way To Go.

In the July 3rd, 2008 edition of the Republican/American, the BOF proposed requiring  the MVFD to charge for I-84 accidents and close a park down to save $20,000.

Requiring the MVFD to charge VICTIMS of I-84 accidents $550.00 per hour will not fly.   The patient is already being billed by the ambulance, whether or not it is the MVFD ambulance or Campion. We could see recovering some of the costs associated with large corporate incidents such as the hydrogen tank truck leak, but not for individuals who have found themselves victims of an accident. It is not right.

The BOF made this proposal without even consulting the MVFD.

During the normal I-84 MVA Engine 3 or Engine 4 responds to the highway for three reasons.  

First, to protect the scene so our EMTs can work safely on the patient. The engine creates a wall between oncoming traffic and the accident scene. The fire officer is constantly watching the scene for anything that may prove dangerous to either the police, firefighters, EMTs or patient.

Second, the engine crew assists the EMS crew in removing the patient from the vehicle and moving him/her to the ambulance. Firefighters, many who are cross-trained, also assist EMS personnel at accidents with multiple victims.

Third, the engine crew, ensures that there is no fire danger with the vehicle, and controls hazardous material spills.

The chief reason the engine is up there is to protect our EMTs. That is their job.  The MVFD is not a tax collecting service.  The MVFD is not going to support the use of firemen to collect money because the Town cannot figure out a budget for next year.  Its not their job. 

You also can’t charge someone for what they did not order.  They called an ambulance (which they are being billed for) not a fire engine.

I-84 accidents are extremely traumatic for all who are involved.  People die or nearly die all the time.  Volunteer firefighters are there to help mitigate, and stabilize the situation. They are keenly aware of the physical and emotional damage these victims are going through.  The last thing the MVFD is going to do is make the situation worse by billing a victim $550.00 per hour. It also damages the reputation of all firefighters in the fire service.  

Where will this stop?  The problem is, it won’t stop just with I-84 calls.  It will be the first step in billing all who need and use MVFD services.  It will spread to Route 64/63 calls and then eventually to private homes.  People will be reluctant to call the MVFD because of not being able to pay an outrageous bill created by the Town.  This will result in more fires. This idea has to be stopped before it gets going.

The BOF and the BOS are trying to muster support for their next budget with the large voting bloc at the MVFD.  We don’t believe you will get any support if this I-84 billing is included.

Next great idea.  Let’s shut down one of the parks.  Brilliant!  Let’s make the budget more attractive to voters by cutting off services to them.  

Which park?  Close down Ledgewood and you will feel the wrath of the entire ever-growing group of Skateboarders in Town as well as their families going against you.  The Skateboard park at Ledgewood Park was built completely by and partially funded by the Skateboarders and their families. Many of the families have donated equipment up there for the kids to use.  Are you going to reimburse them for their expenses if they cannot use the equipment they paid for?

Police Officer Todd Adams has worked feverishly in defense of the Skateboard program in Town.  He is credited for getting the program off the ground, and providing a safe and attractive area for our children to play.  Are you going to undo his work?

Now you want to close it down to save $20,000. Where do they get $20,000 from? $20,000 to mow grass, and pick up garbage? Even if the park was closed, would they just let the grass grow into a hay field? 

This Town bought a farm that no one can use, yet is now talking about closing a park that many families use.  The same holds true for Meadowview.  You think it is a good way to make people support your budget by cutting off services to them?  $20,000 is the same amount the Town reported cost the taxpayers for Mr. DeAngelis’s frivolous FOIs. 

This Town is starting to act like the US Congress whenever they could not pass a budget.  Instead of having real ideas, they start closing National Parks.  I would think Middlebury would have more sense.

How about not paving the roads for one year. How much would that save?  Sell some of Mr. St. John’s construction company equipment off. Stop spending so much money on lawyers. Collect the $900,000 owed to the Town from Mr. St. John’s Washington Dr. deal. Offer tax incentives to attract new corporate businesses into Town. Train volunteers to help out at the Library.  Fight harder for Middlebury’s interests in Region 15.

To me the budget cuts are reactionary without thinking about the consequences inflicted on those it will effect.  It is a way for this Board to punish those who did not accept their budget the first and second time around, just as they did before by closing the library.