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Vermont’s First Responders Crisis By Don Turner Putting aside our differences in politics, we’ve all come to count on our first responders and the services they provide as a “given”. We know that if, in that dreaded circumstance, we have to call 9-1-1 for an emergency, we’ll have a reassuring voice on the other line, ready to send help. But what if there was no answer? What if the wait time for emergency services was too long? What if there were too many other crises at that very moment, and our first responders couldn’t make it? Unfortunately, that’s the reality we find ourselves in now. As a member of the Milton Volunteer Fire Department myself, I’ve seen it first-hand. Fire departments and EMS units across Vermont are finding themselves hit with the very same demographic crisis that has impacted our state politics and budget. We have fewer young people, which means fewer recruits for emergency services. As a result, staffing and volunteer levels are declining considerably. When staffing levels go down, response rates go up. The burden on neighboring communities’ response services increase. And associated insurance costs may spike as well. All of these impacts have a real impact on the quality of services in many regions of our state. Earlier this year, we learned that Cabot Emergency Ambulance Service was in a dire situation. The primary cause, according to the select board chair, was staffing challenges due to the inability to attract and retain people to serve. One 30-year veteran of the squad put it best: “We got a bunch of people we trained. They went to other services or moved out or went to college and didn’t come back...” And it’s not just in Cabot. The Cavendish Fire Department faced similar staffing issues, prompting merger discussions with the Proctorsville Fire Department. Just recently, St. Johnsbury officials expressed an openness to combining emergency services across the region due to the fact that “fire departments around the area are having trouble maintaining their staff numbers.” Barton had to auction off its ambulances. And financial woes faced by the Williamstown Fire Department caused them to consider charging for some fire department services, with the funds going to give volunteer firefighters a $1,000 property tax deduction. The Legislature called for a report on this issue, which found that statewide emergency call volume has increased while, at the same time, “Eight out of ten services are currently reporting difficulty with recruitment and retention.” That’s quite literally a recipe for disaster. As a result of this and other challenges (including funding strains, the toll of the substance abuse epidemic, and credentialing challenges), 10 out of Vermont’s 13 EMS districts saw their response Responsible Stewardship • • • Max continued from previous page get to explore their deepest ideas. The message of “2001: A Space Odyssey” is that man uses his gift of intelligence to find increasingly inventive ways to kill his fellow man. The message of “Ad Astra” is that guys should love their families. Come on, James Gray. You had to do better than that. You • • • • • • times increase from FY17 to FY18. Perhaps the most astonishing line of the report was: “The mental health issues and suicide rates of EMS workers continue to increase at an alarming rate.” Think about that for a moment—our first responders are so overburdened by the current system that their own mental health has been impacted dramatically. The League of Cities and Towns has said we’ve hit the critical stage today. And they’re right. We have to act now. What can we do to ensure the integrity of our first responder systems, and the well-being of those who are there for us in a moment’s notice? First, these conversations about local and regional consolidations must continue. Until our demographic trends are well on their way to being reversed, we need to make more efficient and effective use of the resources we have today. Second, we need to consider providing recruitment benefits to our first responders. As mentioned above, Williamstown is considering opening a fund to provide property tax deductions for volunteer firefighters. When I ran for Lieutenant Governor, I called for First Responder Tax Credits in municipalities across Vermont. Additionally, we can broaden some of the same state benefits we already provide. Vermont currently offers free hunting and fishing licenses to our servicemen and women, as well as our veterans. We should consider expanding this exemption to all first responders, allowing police, firefighters, EMTs, and others to take advantage of this benefit. These are all ideas worth considering. And third, we need to have a real conversation about improving the training and licensing process for first responders. Last year, 50 percent of EMS providers reported a burden caused by the state’s credentialing requirements, and 30 percent indicated a loss in first responders as a direct result. We need to look at streamlining credentialing requirements for emergency services. Our first responders are the true public servants. We all know that they work all hours of the day and night without question. There is no party litmus test for them to help; they’re just there, without hesitation. We have a moral obligation to give back to those who give so much to protect us every single day. Let’s start by having a real conversation about how we can give back, today. Don Turner is a former Republican State Representative from Milton, former House Minority Leader, current Milton Town Manager and longtime member of the Milton Fire and Rescue departments. He was a candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018. By Joe Benning State Senator & Minority Leader, Caledonia District My mother’s family comes from the hills of western Pennsylvania. As a young boy our family summer vacation inevitably meant my being stuffed into the back of our station wagon for a trip to Johnstown. Other than seeing my cousins, there were two things I loved about that town. We would ride the Incline Plane, a rail car hoisted up Yoder Hill along a roughly nine hundred foot rail track at a thrilling angle of thirty-five degrees, to experience sweeping views of the city. We’d also visit Galliker’s store where, for a mere fifteen cents, we could buy balsa wood toy airplanes. With rubber band powered propellers, they’d keep us kids occupied for hours until they broke or ended up on somebody’s roof where we couldn’t get them down. One day I reached the age where my father trusted me to hold the fifteen cents until we got to Galliker’s. I felt honored passing that milestone. But we decided to ride the Incline Plane before visiting Galliker’s, a decision that led to a life lesson. It was extremely hot as my cousins and I came off the rail car and we were thirsty. We passed a soda machine, something I’d never used before. Sodas were a nickel. I had three of them. Plugging one of them in to successfully master the operation, I quenched my thirst. I once again felt like I had passed some important milestone. But as my cousins paid for their toy planes at Galliker’s, I was now a nickel short. My father was not impressed. Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized he was not going to produce another nickel so I could buy a plane. His hard lesson made clear I had nobody to blame but myself for succumbing to a short term desire and forgetting my responsibility to hold that fifteen cents for its original purpose. I was thinking about that lesson recently after hearing comments in reaction to Vermont’s bond rating being downgraded. Citing Vermont’s declining work force, aging population and growing unfunded liabilities, two rating agencies decided Vermont’s ability to pay back money it borrows is shrinking. This downgrade directly impacts our spending capacity. Take for example the State’s Capitol bill, which pays for things like deferred maintenance at the state colleges, the building of state offices, the construction of mental health facilities and prisons. The amount of money we had available for spending in the Capitol bill dropped from $147 million in 2017 to $124 million in 2019. In response to the downgrade, concerning comments came from two influential leaders in the party that holds super-majority status in our legislature. They down played the issue by saying the rating agencies just aren’t being fair in their view of Vermont. They contended that the rating agency standards should be changed to reflect efforts Vermont is making in trying to attract more and younger working people. Their suggestion to the rating agencies that they should move the goal posts will certainly fall on deaf ears. But what signal have they sent to legislators seeking license to create new programs, or to those who want the spending spigot wide open and unfortunately leave Vermont’s taxpayers feeling like a bottomless ATM machine? Doesn’t it suggest we can continue to spend time on efforts to make Vermont “first” with issues that bring political fame while down playing the need of attending to unsexy fundamentals like prisons, mental health facilities, school deferred maintenance, road conditions and water quality? Now is not the time to ignore what the financial world is telling us about our spending habits. The message is clear: we need a different policy direction. We need to refocus all our legislative energy towards fixing foundational problems. We must have the courage to avoid the constant push for more programs and new government employees and get back to focusing on fundamentals. Our desire for instant gratification cannot override our responsibility to future generations. Somewhere in a western Pennsylvania rain gutter are the decaying remains of a balsa wood toy airplane, bought much later by a young boy with three nickels who carefully avoided soda machines on his way to Galliker’s store. The plane’s usefulness expired within hours, but that lesson about responsible stewardship has lasted almost six decades. Vermont must learn that lesson too. promised us sci-fi; but you gave us a Hallmark Channel movie of the week. If you are in the mood for a weird, slow sci-fi movie, watch “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Or ignore me and watch “Ad Astra.” You won’t like it, though. Yes! WE DOoo Diagnostic Work! Along with most all automotive maintenance services Senior Citizens 10% OFF All Parts MORE THAN JUST A MUFFLER SHOP COLE’S & MUFFLER REPAIR 71 MAIN ST, BARRE, VT•802-479-0230 Lung Cancer? Asbestos exposure in industrial, construction, manufacturing jobs, or the military may be the cause. Family in the home were also exposed. Call 1-866-795-3684 or email cancer@breakinginjurynews.com. $30 billion is set aside for asbestos victims with cancer. Valuable settlement s s Still Have Life Insurance? You may qualify for a cash buyout! Are you 75 years or older with a life insurance policy of $100,000 or more? You may qualify to trade-in that unneeded or unwanted policy for a cash payment of tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. • Immediate cash payout • Eliminate premium payments • Use the proceeds however you wish – no restrictions Two and one half billion dollars paid out in life settlement payments last year. 1-855-815-3639 Benefit Advance may share your information and work with non-affiliated third parties to evaluate or qualify your life insurance policies, or as required or permitted by law. AW19-1058 Tickets on Sale Now 20 th Annual Seasons of Life FASHION SHOW | DINNER | LIVE AUCTION Friday, October 4 Capitol Plaza Hotel & Conference Center Governors’ Ballroom Montpelier, VT Meet our Celebrity Emcee Tom Messner, NBC5 “With an aging parent who now needs more care, I understand the importance of what CVHHH does.” Individual Tickets: $80 Buy Your Tickets Online Now: www.cvhhh.org/SOL2019 Questions? Call 224-2234 Thank You For Your Generous Support Event Sponsor Platinum Sponsor Media Sponsor Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice October 2, 2019 The WORLD page 13
Whoever said being a parent is easy? For help call Circle of Parents TM 1-800-CHILDREN 1-800-244-5373 E-mail us! Classified & Display ADS Now Placing Your Classified Or Display Ad Is Even Easier! SAVE $$$$! Curt's Drop-Off SATURDAYS JONES BROS. WAY near VT Granite Museum & Faith Community Church $ 3.50 $ 3.75 in Barre per 30 gal. and/or 25 lb. rubbish bag for 2 or more at a time per 30 gal. and/or 25 lb. rubbish bag See You 7:30AM to 1PM! Jodi's (802)793-7417 Barre Text or Call Our E-mail address is sales@vt-world.com Please include contact person & payment info ( Only) 479-2582 or 1-800-639-9753 Granite City Grocery BBQ Party Cooperative Community Cookout, September 22 at the Granite Museum. Bruce Landry and I Melissa Pecor are the people who took the pics. Over 150 people came out for this. We gained new volunteers and had some great conversations with lots of folks. We had a 50/50 raffle that raised $190. The winner (anonymous) donated their half back to the Museum. We plan to make this an annual even. • • • PROPANE FILLS $13 20 Lb. Tanks $19 30 Lb. Tanks $25 40 Lb. Tanks $60 100 Lb. Tanks Locally Owned & Operated • Mon -Fri 10-6, Sat 10-4 97 US Rt. 302 Barre-Montpelier Rd • 802-479-0671 Zayden John Merced Proud parents Rolando Merced Jr. and Kaitlin Altobelli of 7 Pearl St. Montpelier, VT are happy to announce the birth their son. Born September 7, 2019, Zayden John Merced was 6 lbs. 11oz. and 21 inches at birth. Zayden’s maternal grandmother is Sarah Quigley and his paternal grandparents are Rolando Merced Sr. and Yolanda Torres. Happy Anniversary Forget Me Not Flowers & Gifts and The WORLD would like to help you wish a special couple a Happy Anniversary. Just send their name, address & wedding anniversary date. Each week we publish the names, plus we’ll have a monthly winner for a 1/2 dozen wrapped red roses at Forget Me Not Flowers & Gifts, 214 N. Main Street, Barre. No obligation, nothing to buy. Just send anniversary names two (2) weeks prior to anniversary date, to: The WORLD, c/o HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, 403 U.S. Rt. 302 - Berlin, Barre, VT 05641. Please provide name, address & phone number for prize notification. Forget Me Not Flowers & Gifts 214 N. Main St., Barre • 476-6700 Mon.-Fri. 9-6 | Sat. 9-1 We belong to the Flower Shop Network! www.forgetmenotowers.barre.com Please Send Us Your Anniversaries And Be Automatically Registered To Win A 1/2 Dozen Wrapped, Red Roses From Forget Me Not Flowers & Gifts Shirley & Larry Wiggin, Williamstown, married 56 years on October 3 James & Jessica Aseltine, Orange, married 11 years on October 4 Jared & Hanna Felch, Berlin, married 2 Years on October 6 Paul & Lynn Guare, East Montpelier, married 40 Years on October 6 Francis & Penny Hannigan, Montpelier, married 34 years on October 6 FORGET ME NOT FLOWERS & GIFTS “HAPPY ANNIVERSARY” Mail this coupon to: The WORLD c/o Happy Anniversary 403 U.S. Rt. 302 - Berlin, Barre, VT 05641 Just send in the entry blank below, and we will publish it in this space each week. Plus, we will draw one (1) couple each month for a 1/2 dozen wrapped red roses from Forget Me Not Flowers & Gifts, 214 N. Main St., Barre. No obligation, nothing to buy. Entries must be mailed two (2) weeks prior to anniversary date. Telephone calls to The WORLD will not be accepted. ANNIVERSARY DATE_______________________# YEARS______ NAMES___________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ _________________________________________ PHONE___________________________________ page 14 The WORLD October 2, 2019 Becky Martin Watson (left) and Dorothy Martin Milne (right) were recognized by the Vermont Camping Association for their “lifetime achievement” at Lotus Lake Day Camp, founded in 1952 by their father H. Proctor Martin, mother Helen and brothers Hildreth and Raymond Martin. Helping direct the camp is Beth Allen (center), grand daughter of the founder. Happy Birthday! FROM BARRE-MONTPELIER RD. Price Chopper (Berlin, VT) and The WORLD would like to help you wish someone special a Happy Birthday. Just send their name, address & birthdate. We’ll publish the names in this space each week. Plus, we’ll draw one (1) winner each week for a FREE BIRTHDAY CAKE from Price Chopper (Berlin, VT). No obligation, nothing to buy. Just send birthday names two (2) weeks prior to birthdate, to: The WORLD, c/o BIRTHDAY CAKE, 403 U.S. Rt. 302—Berlin, Barre, VT 05641. Please provide your name, address & phone number for prize notification. September 03, Natalie Broad, Berlin, 8 October 2 Travis Roy, W. Topsham Steven Morris, Barre, 31 October 3 Christina Roberts, Barre, 33 Keegan Lamson, Berlin, 15 October 5 Lisa Companion, Waterbury October 6 Stephanie Antiuk, Bethel Paul "Dick" Tomasini, Graniteville, 86 Hayden Coon, Williamstown Lisa Felch, Barre October 8 Benny Gosselin, W. Topsham This Week’s Cake Winner: Keegan Lamson, Berlin, 15 Years Old on October 3 CAKE WINNER: Please call Price Chopper (Berlin, VT) at 479-9078 and ask for the Bakery Department by Thursday, September 26 to arrange for cake pick-up. PRICE CHOPPER “BIRTHDAY DRAWING” Mail this coupon to: The WORLD c/o Birthday Cake 403 U.S. Rt. 302—Berlin Barre, VT 05641 Open to people of all ages. Just send in the entry blank below, and we will publish it in this space each week. Plus, we will draw one (1) name each week for a FREE BIRTHDAY CAKE from the Price Chopper Super Center (Berlin, VT). No obligation, nothing to buy. Entries must be mailed two (2) weeks prior to birthdate. Telephone calls to The WORLD will not be accepted. BIRTHDATE ___________________________________________ NAME ________________________________________________ AGE (this birthday) ______________________________________ ADDRESS ________________________________________________ PHONE__________________________________ _____________ ARIES (March 21 to April 19) An upcoming trip could create some problems with your schedule unless you tie up as many loose ends as possible before you head out the door. Ask a friend or colleague to help you. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Being eager to start a new project is fine. However, moving ahead without knowing what actually will be expected of you could cause a problem down the line. Ask some questions. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Getting through some recent challenges in good shape might give you a false sense of security. Don’t relax your guard. You need to be prepared for what else could happen. CANCER ( June 21 to July 22) Caution is still advised, even though you think you’re as prepared as you need to be. Keep in mind that change is in your aspect, and you should expect the unexpected. LEO ( July 23 to August 22) The Lion’s gift of persuasion helps you get your points across, even to some of your most negative naysayers. An old friend might seek you out for some advice. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Being sure of your convictions is fine. But leave some room for dissenting opinions. You might learn something that could help you avoid a possible problem later on. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Getting good legal advice on what your rights actually are is the first step toward resolving that pesky problem so that it doesn’t reemerge at a later date. Good luck. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Longtime relationships work well this week, whether they’re personal or professional. It’s a good time to invite new friends and colleagues into your life. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) This is a good week to do the research that will help you uncover those irrefutable facts that can back you up on your new venture when you most need it. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Change is an important factor in your aspect this week and could affect something you might have thought was immune to any sort of adjustment or “alteration.” AQUARIUS ( January 20 to February 18) Being asked to share someone’s deeply personal confidence might be flattering, but accepting could be unwise. Decline gracefully but firmly. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) As wise as you are, you could still be misled by someone who seems to be sincere but might not be. Take more time to assess the situation before making any commitments. BORN THIS WEEK: You like to face challenges that others might try to avoid, and by so doing, you set an example of courage for all. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Page 33: 24 Stowe Reporter Thursday, Septemb

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