By GREG VINE

For Athol Daily News

Published: 4/26/2020 12:21:11 PM

Modified: 4/26/2020 12:21:06 PM

ATHOL — “We’re concerned about everything,” said Athol Town Manager Shaun Suhoski when interviewed regarding the town’s financial picture. “This (COVID-19) crisis is nibbling away at both ends of the bone.

“On the expense side, we do have increased expenses — from overtime, medical supplies, personal protective equipment. The unit to disinfect our ambulance so that it’s not out of service for a half-hour was $3,000; a commercial-grade mister is just one example. So, we have the expenses that are unanticipated but necessary.”

In March, as the extent of the crisis was becoming known, Suhoski sent a memo to department heads urging them to keep a tight rein on their budgets and to expend money only on those goods or services that are absolutely necessary.

“Although we’re re-running the numbers — and the Finance Committee and I will look at them again next week — I have confidence we’re going to be able to manage the current fiscal year. We are segregating all COVID-19 costs so that we can account for them down the road as we look at FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for reimbursement, or the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act funding. The commonwealth did get an allocation of $2.7 billion from the CARES Act only for costs. It does not help the revenue side, but with unanticipated, un-budgeted costs.”

Suhoski said the state and federal governments are hammering out the rules concerning disbursement of CARES Act monies.

“That may cover any deficit spending related to COVID that we have to do,” he said.

The town manager said his real concern is with the approaching fiscal year, which would traditionally begin on July 1 but which is likely to be delayed.

“This is an issue that the town will work through together,” said Suhoski. “This is not one where the town manager says, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do.’ My role is to come up with options, suggestions, recommendations — which I’m working on. But absent some stroke of bipartisanship at the federal level, where cities and towns are covered on the revenue shortfall side, we’re going to going through some tough times.”

He said the town could be faced with the temporary furlough of some workers.

“I really hope it doesn’t get to layoffs,” he stressed. “It’s really going to depend on where the federal stimulus goes, how we are able to slowly ramp up the economy to allow people in their own households to have that discretionary income, which then turns into income for the public entities down the line.”

Suhoski said the town has been losing revenues in several areas, including income from the local meals tax, as well as a drop in the number of building permits, electrical permits, dog licenses, marriage licenses and similar fee-based revenues.

“So, local receipts are down,” he said. “We don’t have any definitive answer from the state, but there are very dire projections on loss of state revenue as compared to when the governor prepared his budget (in January). One model projects a $4 billion loss. So, it would be foolhardy for any local official to think a $4 billion, or even a $2 billion cut, in state revenue won’t somehow impact the local aid account or Chapter 70 aid to the schools.

“It’s just not a pretty picture right now,” Suhoski concluded.

GARDNER — As the area continues to focus on the coronavirus pandemic, the Massachusetts Nurses Association has concerns over local cuts to medical services.

Heywood Healthcare President and CEO Win Brown said Thursday, April 23, there are still questions concerning the temporary shutdown of the mental health unit at Heywood Hospital, which was closed due to the lack of patient volume in the wake of social distancing considerations.

“We are having no trouble placing the limited number of patients that have come through our ER in other local inpatient units, so if that volume returns again we will reassess and look to open,” said Brown.

He added that Heywood Healthcare has dropped a number of services because of the reduction in volume, but he noted that there are mental health offerings still provided. The geriatric psych unit, which is fully operational and has a full census, the partial hospital program, the intensive outpatient program and the telebehavioral health services are all open and still providing behavioral health services to the region.

Nurses, however, believe that there is still a need for the onsite unit.

In a press release from the Massachusetts Nurses Association, registered nurses of Heywood Hospital stated they are “strongly against” the closure of the mental health unit and call on Heywood Healthcare to reopen it, which they call “a critical service” for those in need of specialized psychiatric care, especially essential during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our mental health unit is an essential service for vulnerable members of our community,” said Kara Belmonte, a registered nurse in the mental health unit at Heywood Hospital who has been furloughed due to the closure. “There will be a wave of patients seeking urgent mental health care as the medical devastation of this pandemic peaks and then flattens and people are left with traumatic memories. Post-traumatic stress, isolation and anxiety will worsen existing conditions and create new psychiatric challenges. This pandemic is a stark reminder of the need for ongoing access to quality psychiatric treatment.”

Nurses say that the mental health care system was already overburdened before the pandemic hit and those in need of services were already waiting for treatment.

The MNA has additionally called for a halt to all hospital service closure and staff cutbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that no health care facility that receives additional state or federal funding to help them during the COVID-19 pandemic should lay off or cancel staff, or close facilities or services.

Last week Brown reported that because of the patient drop in volume for everything from elective surgeries to emergency treatment, Heywood Healthcare was losing $5 million per month in revenue. The results have been hundreds of layoffs, furloughs and cuts in salary for administration.

Dawn Casavant, vice president of external affairs, said the MHU is not closed, adding there are regulatory processes involved around closing an essential service.

Catch - 22; Apparently not enough people going to hospitals, especially emergency rooms, now, they are almost begging people to go to hospital if you feel need or are sick, hurt. Seems, revenue is down at all hospitals and speaking with doctors over the phone does not help with $$$. Next federal stimulus package from Washington D.C, will include money for hospitals.

Also in multiple news reports, 80% of people with corona put on ventilators do not survive. This time last year, 80% of people put on a ventilator did not survive. Since no one seems to have a crystal ball, everyone that doctors think should be put on ventilator, happens and then I guess they hope for the best.

Heywood Hospital reported they were closing down mental health unit and laying people off, apparently no business. Other hospitals have reported laying of nurses and others because of no business (basically) so while no one wants to catch corona and lots of people trying to stop it from spreading, there are now multiple reports that ole corona was here weeks before first thought and more people have had it and survived than first thought.

While everyone has thoughts on this and which way to go, I wonder where those ideas and thoughts will go if we stay with most people and business laid off for another month, 2 months or more. I personally do not think even if everything was "opened up" tomorrow, that everyone would flock to the local watering hole, restaurant, jump on a crowded plane or even a ball game. I even wonder how many parents would send their kids off to a crowded school.

SARS or first corona was around back in 2002 - 2004 and I guess its cousin has showed up in 2019 - 2020 and will probably be back, but how long should we be living like a bunch of scared rabbits? The other side of some of this; unemployed people losing health insurance, losing ability to pay rent and yes, some rules been put in place so people do not get evicted, but what about the landlord who's bills come due? Rent does not get paid, landlords have no money to pay their bills and it goes down hill from there. Pretty soon, more and more people on state run health insurance, but with less and less spending happening, how long will that last? Doctors and nurses have bills too, they have to eat. Everyone has to eat. As food banks / food pantry projects grow and more and more people turn to them, when and what effect do those projects have on grocery stores?

https://route2apparel.com/nashobafund/shop/product-detail/22630547


Above link should take you to web site so you may order a Templeton Tough Tee shirt, which will help Templeton food pantry.

By Michelle Williams | Michelle.Williams@MassLive.com
In the midst of a surge in coronavirus cases, Massachusetts health officials revised a guidance for making decisions about which patients will receive potentially life-saving care if the system is overwhelmed, and which patients may not.

The guidance, issued earlier this month by state health officials, seeks to help hospitals answer such questions and offer transparency to the families of sick loved ones ahead of the expected surge of COVID-19 cases this month.

It asks hospitals to assign patients a score, ranking them based on likely long-term survival to determine priority for care. Younger, healthier patients were given preference over older adults, as are medical professionals and pregnant women. The highest priority is given to healthy, young patients with the potential to live longer after recovery.

After the document became public, many critics were vocal, worried some in the community would be penalized for health disparities that wouldn’t impact long-term survival.

In response, the guidelines were revised to acknowledge the impact of race and poverty on a person’s health and make clear that a patient’s disability alone is not an appropriate basis to disqualify a patient for potentially life-saving treatment in the event of a shortage of ventilators or beds available in the ICU.

The guidelines now focus on short-term survivability in recommendations for resources including ventilators.

Hi Jeff,

You are going to be FAMOUS!  After hearing your saying Templeton Tough i have connected with a company that makes uniforms for me and they have a web site set up to help out communities that are struggling with the fallout of Covid 19.  On there site people can purchase a tee shirt for 20.00 bucks for every shirt sold we get 10.00 back towards the food pantry!  Attached is a proof of the shirt that will be offered on the site.  What do you think?   Also i am setting up with Unipay on the Templeton Rec page a section where the public can go to make a donation to of cash via check, debit or e check to the food Pantry.  I will let you know when that goes live.  

Thank You,
​
Scott Dill


Recreation Chairman
Town of Templeton

By Steph Solis | ssolis@masslive.com
Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bill on Monday that bars evictions and foreclosures from moving forward in Massachusetts until after the COVID-19 state of emergency is lifted, preventing renters and homeowners across the state from being forced out of their homes.

The bill imposes a temporary ban on landlords issuing a notice to quit, which starts the eviction process. It also bars courts from issuing executions, orders that a sheriff or constable could enforce to force someone to move out, and pauses foreclosures.

The Legislature passed the bill, H.4647, on Friday after weeks of negotiations. Rep. Shawn Dooley, who had blocked the bill’s passage on Thursday due to concerns about how the bill would affect landlords, but he relented by Friday.

“This legislation is crucial for public health,” Andrea M. Park, an attorney at Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, said in a statement. “If we are going to stay home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, we must all have a home to stay in.”

The moratorium will last for 120 or 45 days after Baker lifts the state of emergency, according to the bill.

FY2021 budget on warrant shows an increase of $163,565.00 for operations of general government, yet we still need 270 thousand from ambulance receipts to balance budget.

Town levy prop 2 1/2 increase total - $252,740.00

Town general op. increase . . . . . . . . . .$163,565.00

School 2 1/2 increase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $165,296.00

Total increase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .  ..  .$328,861.00

97% property tax collection, so missing / uncollected 3% = $310,871.00

That ambulance receipts goes toward that 3% loss for the fy (even as we know, one way or another, it will eventually be collected, it is not available for the FY, but we budget as if we have it.

Current and Prior Year Tax Rates - Templeton MA

• FY2020 Tax Rate - $16.83 per $1000
• FY2019 Tax Rate - $17.24 per $1000
• FY2018 Tax Rate - $16.72 per $1000
• FY2017 Tax Rate - $16.12 per $1000
• FY2016 Tax Rate - $16.47 per $1000
• FY2015 Tax Rate - $16.64 per $1000

Updates for Sunday, April 19th, 2020:

Good Afternoon Heywood Family,

• Testing- We have tested 1,585 individuals, and have received 1,253 Negative results, 261 Positives, and 9 Indeterminates
• Positive rate of 17.2% vs. State Rate of 23.2%
• Statewide Statistics-
• Total Specimens Tested: 156,806
• # Virus Detected: 36,372
• % Positive: 23.2%
• 1,560 deaths (4.3% of confirmed cases)
• Worcester County: 2,952 case
• Franklin County: 177

Templeton Ambulance service goes to a billing service:

Annul Town reports are important and when Town departments, boards, committees, commissions submit their information for said annual town report, no one should be altering, editing or leaving out said information.

Templeton Annual Town report of 2005, page 44, "after many meetings, Templeton board of selectmen and fire department members voted to start a paid ambulance service in Town. Templeton fire department operated a volunteer and free ambulance service since its inception."

Continuing the look at Templeton Town ambulance; 2006 annual town report, page 32: Beginning December 15, 2005, (FY2006) Templeton fire dept. began a third party billing service that allowed responding EMTs to be reimbursed for the countless hours spent on medical calls in town.

From the report, page 32; during the beginning of dept. third party billing service, a revolving account was set up to provide a way to not only pay EMS responders, but also to have a place for deposits to be placed to be used for the purchase of much needed medical and rescue equipment.

Also from the same report, page 31, EMS brought in $44,022.94 to the revolving account and $43,874.20 was expended, leaving $148.74 to be returned to the town. (general fund).

May 10, 2006, annual town meeting voted $125,000.00 for EMS expenses for fiscal year 2007. (article #22)

2007 Templeton annual town report, page 30, reported that being the first full year with third party billing, EMS brought in more money than expected, more money was needed for EMT stipends than was voted at town meeting, so a transfer of $22,500.00 from the town reserve fund was made for a total of EMS expense at $147,500.00, which not only went to EMT stipends but to cover billing company and ALS percentages (money spent to cover those added costs - the town was not yet at the ALS level).

From the same report, page 31, as the year progressed, there were 157 more ambulance calls than the previous year. As these calls added expense to the EMS amount voted at town meeting and the transfer out of town reserve fund, the service brought in more revenue than projected; $208,194.92.

I have not yet found records, but I believe this is where the previously created revolving fund was eliminated, as the EMS revenue was seen as a boom to town general fund revenue. (sound familiar)

In true Tempeton fashion, at the 2007 annual town meeting, an amount of $125,000.00 for EMS expense was voted - article 19, May 16.

2008 Templeton annual town report, page 28, At special town meeting on November 29, 2007 (fiscal year 2008) On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand ($10,000.00) to supplement the Fire Department/EMS Division expenses account for payroll and supplies. Passed/ November 29th @ 7:25

There was also a transfer of $20,000.00 from the town's reserve fund for EMS expenses. At the end of the day, medical billing brought in $224,701.74 and turned into the town general fund.

I believe the increase in ambulance receipts to the general fund over time made it hard and for some, to speak against creating an ambulance receipts fund, because the loss of revenue to the general fund would be hard to make up for and now you can see how and why the ambulance service is underfunded, as in lump sum disallows by the town administrator; it is easier to underfund the ambulance service than it is to make some hard decisions on the general fund side. In 2011, an ambulance receipts fund was created to begin in fiscal year 2013 and that is the year the town went down the path to town provided ALS ambulance service.

Fast forward to the present - transfers from ambulance receipts to general fund began again in fiscal year 2018 - at 2017 annual town meeting.

Doing some reading on the Templeton monthly expenditure reports - Ambulance receipts. (I read one email; "we will build it up over time") So I went back to the beginning of fiscal year 2020 (July 1, 2019 - to date)

Page 5 of monthly expenditure report shows:

Beginning balance (allocated) $406,863.03

Expended (town meeting transfer) $270,000.00

Amount left (ending) $136,863.00

March 31, 2020 - ending $305,446.46

Right now the warrant for annual town meeting shows a request for a transfer from ambulance receipts of $270,000.00.

FY2018 annual town meeting records show a transfer from ambulance receipts of $225,000.00. FY2019 annual town meeting records show a transfer from ambulance receipts of $250,000.00. FY2020 monthly expenditure record shows transfer of $270,000.00.

The transfers of money went to support the general fund, which we are now being told cannot fully fund the ambulance service - lack of money.

from today's selectmen email box:

Members,

 As I sit here on Saturday morning reading the news articles I grow more concerned for the citizens of Templeton. It is becoming more and more obvious to me that my local government is keeping vital health information away from its citizens.

 I've read through 7 local and national publications. Each and every publication has multiple articles relating to the extent of the Covid-19 infection. Each of these publication had World, National and State confirmed cases, deaths and in some  cases recovered cases. Even our own "Daily Status Report" lists National, State and Worcester County confirmed cases, but somehow local information regarding the number of infected, dead and recovered has been determined to sensitive for publication.

 I want to ask someone, on what planet does more information make you less safe? How could knowing the number of confirmed, dead and recovered possibly make me, a citizen, a taxpayer of Templeton less safe? 

 Please show me the facts! How am I as a citizen of Templeton safer by not knowing if 8 or 8000 of my local residents are infected? How do I as a citizen feel safer ( because thats really what its about) when my BOH is withholding vital information regarding the spread of a highly contagious disease among our local community.

Please reply with the governing legal rational for not reporting the number of local confirmed, dead and recovered. Could you also explain how ignorance on the part of the citizenry is preferred over knowledge as seemingly the BOH is insisting that ignorance of a diseases local spread is better than knowledge for the safety of Templeton Taxpayers.

I feel this information is vital to protect the health and safety of Templeton residents and find it a massive disservice that our BOH is refusing to release vital healthcare information.If the info is not important than why is it required to be reported to the BOH?

Only looking for legal response from BOH, not justification of method by BOS or Admin.

Concerned citizen,

Town of Orange, MA reports with a heavy heart, the first corona/covid-19 death in the Town.
This was reported on Thursday, April 9, 2020. I wish those residents / family well.

https://www.facebook.com/orangeMABOH/photos/a.107132080937273/120023159648165/?type=3

You will find the same message here as you will find on my personal face book page and blog.

from the official MA.gov/corona website:

Please note: To protect privacy and confidentiality of individuals who test positive for COVID-19, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health only publicly reports positive case counts and deaths by county. The decision to share more detailed case counts by community rests with each city or town, based on the assessment of the situation in their own communities. DPH only asks local boards of health to respect the privacy and confidentiality of residents when providing community case counts.

There was no vote by the board of selectmen to make it a policy of the Town of Templeton to not release the number of positive cases of covid-19 in Town. Just so we are all clear on that.

Are you a Veteran? Know a Veteran who may need assistance? 

Know a Veteran who may or you think they may need a call/check in 

(maybe think they could use a call)

SAVE - Statewide Advocacy for Veterans Empowerment, 

Telephone: 617-210-5743 or 1-888-844-2838.

Would you like to give some $$$ or help out a Veteran in need; 

local American Legion Post 373, 

located at 3 Central Street, Baldwinville, MA 

telephone (978) 939-8820.

Food4Vets - opening a location at the American Legion at 3 Central St. in Baldwinville, MA with hours to be announced. This is not meant to be a competing entity with the Templeton food pantry; sometimes Veterans are a group like many old timers, they may not ask for help or go to the Templeton food pantry, but they might accept help from or let another Veteran know they could use a hand up, this would just be another path to help some out who may need it right now. This is Veterans looking out for Veterans.

As always, if you can, help out the Templeton food pantry too;

plenty of need out there right now.

We can handle this corona stuff - We are Templeton Tough

I hope all this gear/equipment being brought into MA (according to governor updates and news reports) are making their way West of 495; There are actual communities that exist past that route. All of the Commonwealth is not located East of 495.

GARDNER — COVID-19 numbers are creeping up, but the area is maintaining a lower rate than the state’s average for those testing positive for the novel coronavirus, according to Heywood Healthcare, which also indicates that it is starting to run low on scrubs and gowns.

By Tuesday morning, April 7, Heywood Healthcare reported a total of 120 positive cases of the virus so far. Five of those tested had indeterminate results, meaning they could not be determined as positive or negative. The rate of positive local cases in the health system is 16.5 percent, compared to the state’s 18.1 percent. At Heywood Hospital, there are six patients in-house who have tested positive for COVID-19. There are 10 patients under investigation.

Statewide as of Tuesday morning, there were about 76,000 tests collected, of which about 14,000 were positive. There have been about 260 deaths in Massachusetts.

President and CEO of Heywood Healthcare Win Brown said during his morning update Tuesday that anyone now entering the health system’s facilities must be wearing a mask. He added that scarves and bandanas are acceptable. If someone checks in without a mask, one will be provided.

Brown asked all staff wearing scrubs to leave them behind so they can be washed, and requested that any staff members who have brought scrubs home to please bring them back. Isolation gowns are also running short.

“Given the pandemic, we are on an allocation for the number of scrubs that we get and the number of surgical gowns on a daily basis. So if you have anything sitting at home, it really needs to come back in because we are starting to run short on our shifts,” he said.

from The Gardner News:

HUBBARDSTON — “We’re going ahead full steam,” Town Clerk Laurie Reed said of the democratic processes in town.

Everything is still on track for the town’s annual meeting, planned for June 2, and election, still set for June 9.

Reed noted everything could change as warranted due to the ongoing coronavirus health crisis, though the latest the town can delay at this point is the end of June, unless state rules change again.

Papers for those seeking election to town office were available starting Tuesday, April 7, and are due back by 5 p.m. on April 21, Reed said, but she added there is some flexibility in the procedures.

She said she can meet with people outside of Town Hall, for instance.

But email is usually the best way to communicate; calling Town Hall, they can also leave a message.

Reed said come time for the election, the town will use the best ways it can to protect people and make sure they are practicing social distancing.

Potential candidates will still need to gather 20 signatures, and Reed recommends a few extra in case someone signs who is not actually registered to vote And she will be handing out 25 signature sheets to candidates so each person signing can use a fresh sheet of paper to avoid any concerns about COVID-19.

She said businesses are still open in town, and are places a candidate could gather signatures, keeping in mind people may want some distance.

If someone is interested in signing a nomination paper, they can arrange to meet them. It may require a little more work than normal but can still be done.

Reed said she can work with candidates to guide them through the process.

For voters, there are some options. Voting hours are not yet determined, Reed said. But many voters can skip the in-person process and request an absentee ballot. There are no criteria needed, unlike the typical absentee request process. Voters can then have the ballot mailed to them and send it back through the mail. All “no-contact” voting.

For those who go to the polls in person, there may be adjustments, such as possibly allowing people to bring their own pens. The new voting machine will be a little more forgiving in that regard.

But for more information, residents can contact Reed at tclerk@hubbardstonma.us or leave a phone message at 978-928-1400, ext. 202.

Positions on the ballot are: Board of Selectmen, three years; Board of Assessors, three years; Planning Board, a five-year and one-year seat; Board of Health, two three-year seats; Quabbin Regional School Committee, three years; Finance Committee, two three-year seats; Cemetery Commission, three years; Trustees of Public Library, two three-year seats; Park Commissioner, two three-year seats and a one-year seat.

Julie Kelley shared a link.

Conversation Starter · April 3 at 8:21 AM

Because this did not get anywhere near the attention it warrants - I am reposting this.

This is critical information for your districts. Starting around the 40 minute or so mark, the news is startling to say the very least.

Due to the inability to project revenues, which really can't be determined at all until the economy reopens, there is a real possibility the legislature may decided to go into a 1/12 for the state budget, or pass a budget for July, August, and September. (Place this also on your calendar as a must watch on 4/7: https://malegislature.gov/Events/SpecialEvents/Detail/350).

The HWM has already indicated they will not be releasing a budget in April. I expect the SWM will soon be following suit. I cannot blame them at all for this by the way - everyday is fluid with the economy, and revenues bottoming out.

No full state budget, means districts and municipalities are placed in holding pattern for state aid, which means everyone should operate in 1/12 to FY20 until concrete numbers are passed.

My suggestion for whatever it is worth, is to start having conversations with your union presidents. Should the state be forced to delay FY21 budget, will the unions agree to delay FY21 contract raises until state budget passes. They aren't giving them up. They are just delaying them. This is a no brainer to me, which should elicit an "of course" from union members - however, in the real world, easy is never really easy is it.

10 million jobs gone the past two weeks. Everything needs to be on the table if we are going to get through this.

By Stephen Landry / slandry@thegardnernews.com

Posted at 6:00 AM

GARDNER — As word of an impending pandemic shutdown began to spread across the country a few weeks ago, Americans started buying firearms in record numbers. Match Shot Firearms in Gardner likewise saw a similar surge in business.

The FBI reported that 2.5 million guns were sold in the U.S. in March, representing an increase of about 85 percent from March 2019. More than 210,000 gun background checks were conducted in a single day (Monday, March 20), according to reports.

Locally, the story was much the same, with sales surging at Match Point Firearms, according to owner Ron Bobick. He said his sales in March alone nearly surpassed the total amount he had made in the previous six months.

“Gun sales were just off the charts for the month of March; the sales were incredible,” Bobick said. “I’m in the process as we speak of trying to restock certain products, whatever I can get.” He said most of the suppliers he purchases from are also running very low on inventory. “They are out of 9 mm ammunition on the East Coast, and I can’t order certain firearms because there aren’t any. This whole pandemic just put everybody into a panic.”

Match Shot Firearms is now closed until at least the end of April, however, after Gov. Charlie Baker reversed his decision to keep gun stores in the state open as essential businesses. Needless to say, that order did not sit well with Bobick or his customers.

“As far as (Baker) flip-flopping, he’s like a kivver out of water,” Bobick said. “I mean, come on, one day you tell us we’re essential, the next day we’re not? Explain the difference between a gun store and a liquor store. Where’s the essential difference? I don’t see it.”

Updated Apr 5, 2020 at 7:24 AM

WORCESTER - Seeking a more real-time picture of the COVID-19 situation, the city reached out to the UMass Memorial and St. Vincent Hospital health care systems to get a sense of what’s currently going on in the fight against the pandemic.

City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. said between UMass Memorial, including its regional campuses, and St. Vincent’s, they are currently taking care of 109 COVID-19 cases, including 29 people in intensive care units. The health care systems have had 14 COVID-19-related deaths, and 64 total hospital employees have tested positive for the virus.

Officially, the city’s count increased Saturday by 43 to a total of 310.

Dr. Michael P. Hirsh, the city’s medical director, said the updated health care system numbers appeared manageable. He estimated the ICU beds are at about 45% to 50% capacity. Where bottlenecks are occurring, he said, are with patients who are taking a while to recover - coming off a ventilator, for example.

Hirsh said that’s why it’s so important that the city is hosting the state’s first field hospital at the DCU Center and is converting the Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center to a COVID-19 recovery facility. He said the hospitals are already taking steps to expand that ICU capacity, and are even converting anesthesia equipment to ventilators in anticipation of a predicted spike in cases by the end of next week.

According to the state Department of Public Health, Worcester County has seen a total of 915 positive cases. Twenty-four new deaths were announced across the state, for a total of 216. The newly reported deaths included three people from Worcester County - a man and a woman in their 90s, and a man in his 80s

Posted Apr 3, 2020 at 6:00 AM

 

WINCHENDON — People driving past the industrial park on Route 140 may wonder why there are cars parked outside of Mylec Hockey, a company famous for dek hockey equipment. There is nothing necessarily essential about dek hockey unless you really love to play — or there are hospitals in need of help during a coronavirus pandemic.

Mylec has recently become an essential business because it is making flooring for tents being set up all over the country to meet the needs of hospitals during the growing COVID-19 crisis. The flooring, called DEKMAT, is manufactured to withstand heavy traffic.

Mylec is working with Progressive Emergency, a company that provides municipalities with tents and equipment to set up outdoor hospitals, triage centers or whatever is needed. Mylec President Rick Laperriere said he has previously worked with the Texas company that is now building medical tents for hospitals.

“When immigrants started rushing to the (U.S.-Mexico) border,” said Laperriere.

Mylec has been working on flooring for the last 10 years. The flooring surface has an added advantage of assembly without tools, and is a good, strong addition to the emergency response tents that receive a lot of traffic.

“They love our flooring because the people aren’t in the elements and not touching ground,” said Laperriere. “If by chance if it got blood on it, they can power wash it and steam clean it and it doesn’t hurt it,” he added. “If they want to move to another area, they just roll the floor up and move on.”

The Winchendon company remains busy during the coronavirus business shutdown, though many other manufacturers have closed their doors.

“We are working on a very large order right now,” Laperriere said in a phone interview on Tuesday, March 31. “We are working overtime so we can get it out ASAP.”

from The Gardner News - April 3, 2020:

 

GARDNER — Greater Gardner communities are gearing up for the surge in coronavirus infections that is predicted in the next few weeks, and Heywood Healthcare has a team focused on meeting the challenge.

In an effort to keep everyone informed, Heywood Healthcare President and CEO Win Brown has been producing a video each morning and evening to keep staff and the public at large informed. Though the growing number of infected cases has been sobering, the videos have helped to make sure all are prepared and taking precautions.

Heywood Healthcare has tested a total of 630 inpatients and outpatients, with total 430 tests ruled negative for COVID-19, not including “rule-out” patients and positive cases.

“You can see those (testing) numbers are improving, and that has to do with a better turnaround time. There are 70 positives in the community, showing a 14 percent positive rate,” said Brown on Friday.

Brown also reported that the state has tested approximately 57,000 patients, with about 9,000 positive results and an estimated 14 percent positive rate. There have been 154 deaths across the state.

Brown praised the work of Gov. Charlie Baker, and he also noted Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, for bringing more than a million needed N95 masks to Massachusetts from China. Brown said he believes Heywood will be seeing some of those same supplies sometime next week.

“We appreciate that as we are always working on keeping our supplies up,” he said.

Brown reported that after a “somewhat intense” incident command meeting Friday morning, the staff is preparing beds for the surge predicted by the numbers that are visibly increasing.

Currently there are 11 patients in-house waiting for test results to be returned. Five patients in-house have tested positive. Three of those are in ICU and ventilated, and two are on the medical surge floor.

“We are starting to feel the tick up about the viral node in our community as we start ramping up over the course of this next couple of weeks,” said Brown.

Brown said there is an effort to help staff keep food on their table at home. There are also those reaching out with counseling to help staff with anxiety, saying there will be no copay and no one will be turned away as they tackle the pandemic. Brown encouraged the staff to utilize the resources they have available.

There is concern over available ventilators.

Dawn Casavant, vice president of external affairs, said that between Athol Hospital and Heywood Hospital there are six ventilators. There are also ventilators used for different purposes such as anesthesia and bypass. She said it all depends on a patient’s needs which ventilator will be used.

Casavant said they are hoping to see another six to 10 ventilators from the state.

Casavant talked of the plans to maximize beds for the surge. The hospital is licensed for 134 beds. She said they are planning to move patients to Athol Hospital that are not COVID-19 patients, and making Heywood Hospital the place where COVID-19 patients will be treated, surging into the different units as the numbers grow.

In related news

In Winchendon, the virus numbers are growing. Town Manager Keith Hickey said in a call Friday that six people have been diagnosed within the town and tests have been administered to others who are awaiting the results.

He said all are quarantined to minimize exposure to others.

Hickey reported that the Department of Public Health anticipates that in two to three weeks the state will experience a peak of those testing positive for COVID-19. He said that to reduce the rise in the virus it is critical to adhere to the safe hygiene practices and vigilant social distancing.

“It is possible for people to spread the virus up to 40 hours before they have symptoms. That is why it is so important to practice social distancing,” said Hickey, advising at least six feet between two people.

Hickey said that town offices and the Department of Public Works are working split shifts in order to follow the advised social distancing guidelines. He said the police and fire will continue to respond to emergencies.

The following shows the reason (s) behind the upcoming Templeton annual town meeting, article #3 (article # as of right now)

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From: Terenzini, Carter <cterenzini@TempletonMA.gov>
Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2019 2:22 PM
To: Adam D. Lamontagne <alamontagne@TempletonMA.gov>; Bennett, Jeff <jbennett@TempletonMA.gov>; Currie, Michael <mcurrie@TempletonMA.gov>; Diane Haleybrooks <DHaleybrooks@TempletonMA.gov>; Richard, Julie <jrichard@TempletonMA.gov>; Griffis, Terry <tgriffis@TempletonMA.gov>; Young, Holly <hyoung@TempletonMA.gov>
Cc: Pontbriand, Kelli <kpontbriand@TempletonMA.gov>; Royer, Luanne <lroyer@TempletonMA.gov>; Richardson, Cheryl <crichardson@TempletonMA.gov>
Subject: ReCap

 

Good Day:

We had three issues with our recap and it appears it will NOT require a resigning.  We will advise you ASAP if it turns out otherwise.

1. We had place a miscellaneous revenue item in one reporting column when DOR asked us to report it differently.  This threw the recap off.  They subsequently advised we had done it correctly; once moved back it was AOK but…

2. They then had questions on our FY ’20 DE-1 (monies to be raised as the result of a debt exclusion).  Let me start by saying that, during the course of construction, one never knows exactly how much one will need nor what the interest rate will be;  With the two windows to work with (Town Meeting and Recap) we are not always spot on the amounts needed during the BAN phase of the financing.  We budgeted, in May of ’19, $90k for interest on BANs we issued in November of ’19 and are due in February of ’20.  At that time we will convert some portion thereof to General Obligation Bonds.  It turned out that the interest is only $51,954 leaving an excess of $32,046.  We also budgeted $75k to make advance paydowns on the BANs thus reducing the GOBs we had to raise and the annual principal and interest payments.  In simplest terms; DOR wants to see only the amounts that are shown as owed on a debt statement that we “need” to pay down in that FY.    They do not want to see us raising the added amount we “want” to pay down. They subsequently approved the inclusion of these monies on the DE-1 But advised us to not do so again in the future.

3. Notwithstanding prior legal advice that Article 2 of the July STM was a proper method of authorizing the BoS to cut the General Fund budget to accommodate the final NRSD budget; they subsequently opined that it was not permissible.  That said, they did earlier today approve the use of that  method provided the Chair and I sign a letter committing to seeking an appropriation of the same amount as we cut the general fund to out all of the accounts.  The end result is nil as we use FY ’19 free cash to satisfy them which simply becomes FY ’20 free cash as it never actually gets spent.

With this behind us, Luanne advises all comments have been submitted and we expect a rate by Monday; a date we had established as our “drop dead”.

Over the coming months we will ask Town Counsel to arrange a meeting with DOR Chief Counsel and our Bond Counsel to discuss these differing legal opinions that we might learn more.

Many Thanks

Carter Terenzini

Town Administrator

Town of Templeton

160 Patriots Road

East Templeton, MA 01438

1.978.894.2755

Why spend further tax dollars meeting with lawyers, just follow the guidance of the Department of Revenue; you cannot do what you did, plain and simple.