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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 216
“I venture to suggest that patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” — Adlai E. Stevenson 75 cents
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016
Prolamina renovation celebrated Representatives from several HCAA member towns were present at the Blandford meeting on Monday. (Photo by Amy
Angela Mulkerin, second from right, came before the Blandford Board of Selectman on Monday to discuss Hilltown Community Ambulance Association’s capital drive.
Porter)
(Photo by Amy Porter)
Hilltown Community Ambulance gears up for capital drive, as towns seek more accountability By AMY PORTER Correspondent BLANDFORD – Angela Mulkerin, service director and paramedic for the Hilltown Community Ambulance Association came before the Blandford Board of Selectmen on Monday evening to answer financial questions about the association and its impending $220,000 capital campaign to purchase a new ambulance. HCAA is a non-profit organization providing EMS services to the communities of Blandford, Chester, Huntington, Montgomery, Russell and Worthington since 2002. Many of the initial questions directed at Mulkerin concerned the need for updated financial statements and accounts receivables. Handing out annual reports for 2014, she said that the medical billing process takes a long time, and they are still collecting on accounts from 2010. She said HCAA policy is to keep accounts active if patients are making monthly payments, and not send them to collections. She also said they do not collect on deceased patients. Over time, they end up collecting 82% of what they bill. Mulkerin said their Comstar Ambulance Billing Service representative, who does all their billing and follow up, told them they are being as aggressive as they can be. She also said their collections are average among ambulance services in the state. Blandford selectman Andy Montanaro asked if Mulkerin had the same data for 2015 and 2016. She said to keep in mind that their service data is on a calendar year, while their accounting is on a fiscal year. She said that last year, HCAA expenses were $13,000 less than collections. Mulkerin reported that she applied this year for an AFG (Assistance to Firefighters) grant through FEMA for $210,000 for an ambulance. She said that HCAA hit high in priority for a lot of the categories, but was turned down. She said they expect to get a reason for the denial in the next 30 days, and will try again. She said the next step for them is to implement the three-year plan she submitted to member towns last year, which contains a $20,000 to $30,000 per year increase divided among the six towns for an ambulance. Blandford selectman Bill Levakis asked whether HCAA had to buy a new ambulance, or if they could lease one. Mulkerin responded that they could lease one, and also have the option to buy a demo. She said they are also looking at loans from traditional banks, and also non-profit lenders. She said no decisions have been made.
When asked what is the life expectancy for an ambulance, Mulkerin said, “We think we can keep it for 10 years.” She said currently their front line ambulance is a 2008 model, and their second ambulance is a 2002. She added that if the organization is successful in obtaining grant money, the grant may dictate the disposition of their ambulances. When asked if the towns would only have to pay for the time the ambulance is financed, Mulkerin said that once an ambulance hits 10 or 12 years, they would be in the market for a new one. Mulkerin said they need to bring in $20,000 to $30,000 additional dollars per year for capital expenditures. Blandford finance committee member Linda Smith then launched into an intensive series of questions, prefaced with the statement that she very much desired HCAA’s continued success. Smith said she was a founding director of the service, which had a goal of providing the best EMS service that the hilltowns could afford. She added that due to the time invested, she considers herself a stakeholder, but as a member of the finance committee, she has a fiduciary responsibility to the town. Many of Smith’s questions were about the composition of the HCAA board of directors, and how they are appointed. Mulkerin said the board meets monthly, and has representatives from each of the towns on it. They have a secretary who reads minutes at every meeting, and a personnel committee. In response to several more questions, Mulkerin said that the treasurer’s report is a part of the service director’s report, and is voted on as a part of the minutes. Besides Comstar doing the billing and follow up, Dove Business Association in Williamsburg does paychecks which require two board member signatures. Mulkerin does the payroll. Asked about audits, Mulkerin said they have a CPA firm that does financial reviews. Smith suggested looking into getting a full audit, and also said that the financial reviews should be going to the towns yearly. She also commented about HCAA not having a plan in place to replace ambulances. “You’re asking the towns to purchase a vehicle for you without control of the company,” Smith said. “Unfortunately, all of our revenue comes from the towns and the taxpayers. The next possibility would be to raise the rates for taxpayers,” Mulkerin responded. She said they can set any rate they want, but Medicare dictates how successful they would be. She said 30% of HCAA calls are Medicare, so they generally follow Medicare rates, because that’s what they are going to get. She
said they get $860 for an average ambulance call. Currently, HCAA is housed in the old electric company building on 1 Bromley Road in Huntington. Mulkerin said they are happy there, that it is a good central location for their service area, and has heat and hot water, and she knows they are “getting it for a steal” from the town. She said they have 24/7 coverage, with two people in the building at all times. HCAA has 30 professional staff, 15 of which are paramedics, and the others basic EMTs. Most work full-time at other organizations and take part-time shifts at HCAA. There are five full-time HCAA employees, including herself and four basic EMTs. Levakis asked if the town of Huntington is responsible for the location. Huntington selectman Ed Renauld, one of several officials from other member towns present at the meeting, responded that the town rented it to HCAA as a garage for ambulances only, not for residential or business use, and a lease was signed. Mulkerin said that OSHA has clear rules about eating and sleeping on site. She said employees on duty should not be sleeping, and should only be bringing food in. She said she has worked in many bases, and Huntington’s is one of the nicer ones. Blandford selectmen chair Adam Dolby asked if Huntington wants to continue to offer the building. Renauld said the town bought the building to give HCAA a place, but not to be a landford. He said the rent remains the same as the former lease from the utility. Both Renauld and Russell selectman Keith Cortis were asked by Dolby about a Request for Proposal (RFP) for ambulance services that the two towns have been working on. Renauld said that there had been “bad blood” developing between town officials and the HCAA. He said they’ve talked about sending out an RFP that would allow them to choose services they could afford. He said if HCAA doesn’t put in for the RFP, they wouldn’t be able to be considered. Cortis said the conversations have been going on for months, and no one wants HCAA to fail. He said the two towns were hoping that HCAA would bid on the RFP. Later, he clarified that the RFP is still in draft form and has not been sent out. “We can’t have a contractual obligation with two towns, when we represent six towns,” Mulkerin said, asking, “How See Capital Drive, Page 3
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–The Westfield Aviation Museum will be holding their third annual Big Band Hangar Dance on Oct. 14, to raise money for the future site of the museum. The dance will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Hangar Three at Barnes Municipal Airport, and will feature live swing and big band music, a buffet, dancing, raffles and a cash bar. The funds will go toward the completion of the museum’s building. The plan for the museum has been ongoing for at least a decade according to members, and the project is finally nearing its completion. “First dance we had, it was a hoot,” Pete Howe, Westfield Aviation Museum president, said. “We’re trying to raise money for awareness and frankly, it’s fun.” Howe said that there are 250 tickets available and they are $40 each, but if the sales exceed expectations they are willing
to sell more tickets. Additionally, Howe said that there have been invitations made to local politicians and noted people, but no official attendance has been received. The last two hangar dances, Howe said, were both wellreceived and sold out relatively quickly, and he sees this dance being no different–especially because alcohol will now be served. Howe said this will be the first hangar dance that serves alcohol, which will be provided by Papps Bar and Grille. Regarding what kinds of alcohol would be served, a representative from Papps said that there would be a cash bar, but they were waiting for confirmation from the Westfield License Commission on what could be served. Whatever is allowed though, Papps said they will serve it. Food will also be provided at the event, which will be from See Hanger Dance, Page 3
See Prolamina, Page 3
Mayor Brian P. Sullivan and ProAmpac CEO Greg Tucker and dignitaries cut the ribbon to mark the completion of Prolamina's renovation on Tuesday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Congamond Road project moving forward, grant is in need for sewer issues By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Sewer Implementation Committee discussed the issues on Congamond Rd. during their meeting on Tuesday night. A member of the committee as well as the Department of Public Works Director for the Town of Southwick, Randy Brown, acknowledged that a project on Congamond Rd. is continuing to be put in place. There will be a reconstruction of Congamond Rd. in which MassDOT is providing the funding. The project includes a new drainage system, a sidewalk on the south side of the road and brand new bike lanes. According to Brown, the project is about 75% designed. “We’ve had several public hearings about this project throughout the last couple years,” said Brown. See Sewer Issues, Page 3
Members of the Sewer Implementation Committee discuss the Congamond Rd. project and the grant application program. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
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Westfield Aviation Museum Hangar Dance set
By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Prolamina, a division of ProAmpac held a ribbon-cutting on Tuesday for the completion of a $4 million dollar renovation to its building at 132 North Elm Street, which included a 31,000 square foot renovation/ addition to its office space, and 200,000 sq. ft. roof replacement and repair. Another $3 million will be invested in new machinery for the plant. David Hopkins, president of commercial operations, thanked employees for their cooperation and patience, saying they had to vacate the entire office area and move people to Westwood and in the plant during the renovation, which took a little more than a year. The business, which started in 1972 as Jen-Coat Inc. has been at its present location for more than 30 years. Prolamina is a leading North American packaging company that serves the food, medical and specialty markets, and is a leading source for extrusion coated and laminated nonwovens. Some of the products made at the Westfield plant