BUCKFIELD — The Select Board accepted a consent agreement last week with the Maine Emergency Medical Services board for a penalty for allowing an emergency medical services person, who did not have a certificate of immunization against COVID-19, to provide direct patient care.
According to the agreement, “between Aug. 19, 2022, and March 20, 2023, Buckfield Rescue allowed an individual licensed by the board, who had not provided to Buckfield Rescue a certificate of immunization demonstrating the person has been vaccinated against COVID-19 or documentation of an exception, to provide direct care on 91 occasions.”
The person is not named.
The report states that another individual, between Sept. 6, 2022, and March 20, 2023, who had not provided Buckfield Rescue with proof of vaccination or an exception, “provided direct patient care on 27 occasions.”
According to Selectman Sandra Fickett, the town received a warning and no fine because of its quick response to the matter.
“We need to follow policy and procedure going forward, and we’ve agreed to do that,” Fickett said. “We are completely in compliance now and intend to stay that way.”
Maine EMS filed a complaint against the rescue service March 15. The board received a response from Town Manager Cameron Hinkley on April 1 saying Rescue Chief Floyd “Chip” Richardson had resigned, and that the department has ensured that “only emergency medical services persons who have provided a certificate of immunization or documentation of an exception are providing direct patient care.”
Fickett, Chairman Robert Hand, Michael Iveson and Heather Henley voted to accept the agreement. Azalea Cormier was absent.
The vote means the town waives its ability for additional hearings or appeals.
In other business, the board directed Hinkley to revisit the cable franchise agreement with Charter Communications to eliminate the section dealing with a public access channel. The town has not used the public access channel for several years.
When approved, the contract will not come up for renewal for 10 years.
Discussion on a proposed Municipal Property Usage Policy/Ordinance was postponed until the next meeting because of Cormier’s absence, since she was researching the topic.
The need arose due to a concern of individuals pitching a tent alongside the Nezinscot River on town property.
The board changed the date of its next meeting from July 4 to July 5 at 6:30 p.m.
With the approval of the municipal budget June 13, Hinkley said the town is in much better financial shape heading into the new fiscal year that begins Saturday.
“It’s nice going into the new fiscal year, knowing what we have for a budget,” Hinkley said.
The town had not approved a budget in the previous three years until roughly three months after the start of the new fiscal year.
Hinkley said that on Memorial Day another pipe burst in the Town Office, and the basement filled with 5 feet of water. The Fire Department pumped most of the water out and a plumber fixed the pipe and restored water to the building.
The two boilers and hot water heater were under water and need to be replaced, Hinkley said.
Former Selectman Martha Catevenis urged the Select Board to get more involved in town business to take some of the load off Hinkley.
Catevenis was concerned about a list of 15 tabled items on its agenda, which the town refers to as the “parking lot.”
Fickett and Hand said board members are working on some of those tasks and recently prioritized items.
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