Melissa Gleaton
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On the article 'Ayes' For Turf Field, Rail Trail at Tewksbury Town Meeting
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On the article Tewksbury Annual Town Meeting Approves Additional $351,000 For Fire Department Budget
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On the article Tewksbury Annual Town Meeting Approves Additional $351,000 For Fire Department Budget
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On the article Tewksbury Annual Town Meeting Approves Additional $351,000 For Fire Department Budget
Melissa Gleaton
1:07 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Thank you, Scott. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes. If it were easy, we wouldn't be in this predicament.
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On the article Tewksbury Annual Town Meeting Approves Additional $351,000 For Fire Department Budget
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On the article Tewksbury Annual Town Meeting Approves Additional $351,000 For Fire Department Budget
Melissa Gleaton
1:02 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Ok, the he said she said has been squashed and an apology and understanding was issued... let's move on...
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On the article Tewksbury Annual Town Meeting Approves Additional $351,000 For Fire Department Budget
Melissa Gleaton
1:01 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Ok, and I'm not going to be argumentative here (yet...LOL) because I'm trying to get my facts straight. So, there are 16 Junior FF who man the ambulance (2 per shift, I assume?). Are those 16 Junior FF also pulled into engine duty if/when needed (are they included in the 12 FF per shift)? Does the contract specifically state that South needs to close in the event of a staffing shortage? If so, I'd like to know why that station is singled out in the contract.
And Jennifer, I thought you were incredibly brave to get up there last night. There's no doubt in my mind that you want that station open and that you want it done right. Hopefully, over the next 12 months the powers that be can get it done once and for all.
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On the article Tewksbury Annual Town Meeting Approves Additional $351,000 For Fire Department Budget
Melissa Gleaton
12:50 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
This isn't a concept isolated to Tewksbury. When a call comes in at 3AM, do you want someone to be able to jump up, suit up and get on a truck in 5 minutes, or do you want to wait for them all to come from home first? Maybe overnight shifts that have no calls should not be included in "hours worked" when figuring out OT. I don't know.
We're all quick to judge the needs a fire department has to run as effectively and safely as possible (should we accept anything less?) when we're living the good life with no tragedies. But the tune changes very quickly if/when something goes wrong. "How could we have let this happen???" I don't like that it has come to this (again) any more than anyone else. But the debate should NOT be what constitutes what is safe/acceptable. You can't be safe enough. The debate SHOULD be how we allocate the funds to bring the department up to standards.
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On the article Tewksbury Annual Town Meeting Approves Additional $351,000 For Fire Department Budget
Melissa Gleaton
12:38 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
A very astute assessment... if the TM didn't already have his cuts prepared last night (and the proper Dept. Head didn't know about it), shame on them for not being prepared for anything that may happen.
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On the article Tewksbury Annual Town Meeting Approves Additional $351,000 For Fire Department Budget
Melissa Gleaton
12:27 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
I would be on board with privatizing ambulance service to free up 2 FF to staff engines... It sounds too easy/good to be true though... Can we vote to get a committee together to examine the possibility of doing this? I don't want another scenario where we willy nilly say DO THIS without due diligence.
Melissa Gleaton
10:29 am on Thursday, May 9, 2013
I know these questions are too little too late, but, 1) Is there a running track included around the turf field? 2) if so, will it (the track) be open to the public? 3) if CPA funds cannot be used towards turf, does that mean that it can't be used to PURCHASE the turf, or to INSTALL the turf, or both? I voted in favor of the field because the turf is not being paid for by the taxpayers - but the incidentals are, and they are in line with MGL for use of CPA funds. The CPA funds do not need to be "raised" because they're already there. My only concern is the long term plan for replacement cost. What is the long term vision here?