What should people expect from volunteers?

Templeton, like many small Towns, has and relies on volunteers for things such as fire departments and ambulance calls. Now volunteers does not mean free. It does not mean people are getting rich either. What Templeton has budgeted for the fire department for FY2017 probably not even buy one new engine (fire truck). The budget line item sheet shows a "volunteer" deputy fire cheif receives a stipend of $1,010.00 for the year. A deputy chief also receives a salary of $32,500.00 per year. One of the 2 Templeton deputy fire chiefs is also a full time equivalent employee. I believe the payroll records would show that deputy chief made almost as much as the chief in one year. Templeton budget shows a salary figure of a little more than $100,000.00 for FY 2017, which is used to pay all the volunteers for the year, as it was explained at one meeting. There is also shown a maintenance figure for the year of $6,000.00.

So, should Templeton residents expect that this volunteer department will respond to 100 percent of fire calls? Should Templeton residents expect that this volunteer group can and will respond to 100 percent of the ambulance calls? Is a response of 75% or 90% good enough or acceptable? What number below 100%, if any, would be acceptable? In my opinion, there are only two logical things to do, one is for Templeton to move to a full time ambulance service, with the appropriate number of full time paramedics so we have people 24/7 to respond to all calls. The alternative is for Templeton to go out to bid for a private ambulance service to provide this service to Templeton for a fee on a per year amount basis. A resident of Westminster told me that one year, Woods ambulance service offered a per year amount of $175,000.00 for the privilege of providing ambulance service to the Town and residents said no. I think the heart over rid the mind on that one, but that is just me.

In my opinion, to go full time ambulance service, Templeton would require 12 full time paramedics to cover whatever shift cycle you go with, 3 8s, 2 12s etc. I think to go to 24 hour shifts would require much infrastructure spending, to have a place for people, male and female, to stay over, sleep and eat, house two fully equipped als ambulances with all associated items needed. Salaries required to obtain and keep qualified and quality paramedics would require salaries in the 50 thousand dollar a year amount. You do not want the town to be a training and move on town. Figure that one full time employee equals salary plus about 15 to 20 thousand per year in benefits.

I base my above opinion on many things, one thing in particular, is that while the case may be made that we, the fire department, have these things in place already, such as place to stay, eat and house the ambulances, it would only be a matter of time before Templeton would hear about how old, out dated these facilities are, how cramped, small, etc, etc. It happens and then another debate over how much and what is needed and how important and how often and so on. My thought is this will not happen anytime soon. My opinion is that government is not efficient, is not great at providing service and is usually all about me, me, as in what can I get because I work for the Town or the city. Look at any public sector labor agreement or just go to a selectmen meeting. At the last one, in the town administrator comments, it was stated that some employees or selectmen had issues with holidays off and holiday pay and employees having to work certain hours and this group has this off when we have to work. It seems to getting to the point, where in the public sector, regardless of what town or city, the employees seem to be running the show rather than the people who are suppose to be in charge. Perhaps because those in charge are thinking about getting elected again, who knows.

Certainly, this subject requires greater study and thought than what is written here today, but the question remains, what is the accepted expectation on ambulance response? Is it 75%, 80% or 95%? My thought is if you are the one having a heart attack, you expect 100% response.

posted by Jeff Bennett