DATE: Wednesday, 10/19/11
LOCATION: Freedom Hall, 976 Main Street, Cotuit, MA
TIME: 5:00 PM
Call to order
Review Minutes
Freedom Hall:
District Office Update
Annual Meeting Procedures
Other Business Brought Forward By The Committee
To the Clerk of the Cotuit Fire District, Greetings:
You are hereby required and directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Barnstable residing within the territory comprising the Cotuit Fire District qualified to vote in the District elections and affairs to meet at Freedom Hall, Main Street, Cotuit, on Wednesday October 26, 2011, at seven-thirty o’clock p.m. when action will be taken on the following articles:
Article 1: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $6,000.00 to fund the continuation of Centralized Emergency Medical Dispatch (CMED) service.
Article 2: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $7,800.00 to lease a property to be used as a District Office.
Hereof fail not to make due return of this warrant and your doing thereon at said meeting.
Given under our hands this Fourth day of October, 2011.
Laurie C. Hadley
Amy M. Kates
Richard G. Barry
Prudential Committee
A True Copy, attest:
_____________________
Charles W. Eager, Clerk
Cotuit Fire District
Discussion regarding the expiration of the current Treasure’s contract, and the status of hiring an Assistant Treasurer. Finally, the status of the new software is briefly brought up.
Treasure’s report reviewed, questions regarding the report were answered. A request for public records, made in May, have still not been answered. Outdoor lighting at Freedom Hall discussed, the installing electrician is being contacted. Further discussion regarding the new District Offices. Reports on the CMED system, and the necessary reimbursement for the operation of the system. Concerns over the contracting of work for Freedom Hall were raised; it was agreed they were legal on the grounds that it was emergency work and will be reported to the Secretary of State as such. concerns over the website raised; water dept. in compliance with posting regulation, Fire Dept. and Prudential Committee are not. a Private citizen offers to pay for a Bulletin Board on Fire Station for announcements; Fire Commissioner wishes to know more regarding the exact placement of the board.
PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting
September 26, 2011
6:00 PM
Cotuit Fire Station, 64 High Street, Cotuit, Massachusetts
AGENDA
Public comment
MyCock’s offer of $600, plus utilities for the new District Office space was accepted. Assistant Treasure position was not advertised due to lack of district office; Treasure not present to continue discussion. Ms Kates resigns as Clerk of Prudential Committee, Ms Hadley takes on the duties of Clerk. Ms. Kates upset with the way the Minutes from the previous meeting had been posted; that a bullet board had not yet been acquired.
Further discussion about leasing a new District Office. Still waiting on job description for Assistant Treasurer, but ads for the position will be run in the Enterprise and Cap Cod Times, salary will be $15,000 and will have a closing date of September 17. Estimates on Freedom Hall are in, the Bid from David Kerr of Cotuit was accepted.
Discussion on the pending litigation, the cost of the district and the importance about dissemination of public information.
New meeting format, regarding public comments, announced. The state of the path through the park is brought up, DPW will be contacted. Treasurer’s report distributed. Still attempting to locate a new District Office, Mycock offers use of his property. Northern Data selected as the new accounting software on the grounds of price and being more adaptable to use throughout the district. Assistant Treasurer needs a job description, salary, hours, and advertising for the position needs to occur. Possibility of additional charges to the district for ambulance services, as money for the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Dept. to dispatch ambulances is running out and will be gone by mid-September. A significant increase in the insurance deductible for the policy cover the Fire and Water dept. is brought up.
Further Discussion of the Fire Fighter’s contracts; concern over the lack of involvement of the Prudential Committee. Most changes will not affect current employees of the fire dept, only new-hires. Union has been cooperative; feels it is more important to increase the size of the dept. Raises will be 0-1-2 over the next three years. Concerns about the on-going litigation are voiced.