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14 <br /> Finance Committee <br /> Minutes <br /> March 21, 2019 <br /> Annual Town Meeting Warrant: (continued) <br /> Article#2: Omnibus Budget: <br /> The Finance Committee conducted a detailed review of the Annual Operating Budget. Line <br /> items held for discussion include; Human Resources, Police, Fire, DPW, Transfer Station, <br /> Library, Medical and Town Insurance. <br /> Human Resources: For clearer and exact budgetary expenditures,the exams previously <br /> categorized collectively are now independently listed. Outstanding liabilities are budgeted to <br /> plan for liability purposes. <br /> Police &Fire: The budget proposes funding; positions previously authorized, for(2) <br /> Firefighter/Paramedics and (2) Police Patrol Officers. The departments are stressed and short <br /> staffed. It is the recommendation of the Town Manager to remain firm with the funding of the <br /> recommended public safety positions. Staffing levels with like communities are below in terms <br /> of Police Officers. <br /> Police Departments in comparison, Bourne: 47, Dennis 50, Mashpee 38. The Town of Mashpee <br /> Police Department is equivalent to Bourne in terms of calls for service. In Dennis, the calls for <br /> service are lower. Calls in the Town of Mashpee have increased yearly. Police Officers are <br /> working double-shifts which places their lives at risk. An increase in Patrol Officers would <br /> offset the constraint within the department. <br /> The Fire Department is slightly below in comparison to like size towns. In 2017, 90 days into <br /> the summer the Fire Department transported 490 times. During the same time period last year, <br /> response was 672 times which represents an increase of 38%. Mutual aid during 2017 was 28 <br /> with 66 reported response times in 2018 during the same period. This is a driving force for <br /> employees, and the Town should not be relying on other towns for repeated mutual aid services. <br /> Mutual aid is used for emergency purposes and is generally unique and rare. Discussion <br /> followed regarding turn-backs, and the need for discretionary funds for unanticipated <br /> expenditures. Vehicle repairs can also be quite costly. <br />