Western Mass Emergency
Medical Services Committee, Inc.
Meeting:
Communications
Committee
Date: January 4, 2001
Place: Cooley
Dickinson Hospital, McCallum Building
Presiding: D. Keefe, J.
Rawson, Co-Chairpersons
Called
to Order: 8:30 a.m.
Adjourned: 10:00 a.m.
Attendance:
Present
- Brian
Andrews, Stephen Cote, Thomas Coulombe, Bernie Forgea, Dave Keefe, James Lake,
Diane
LaCasse, Guy Manners, Jeff Rawson, Kathy Rider, Mike Zlogar
Minutes: Acceptance of minutes was overlooked at last
meeting.
Modifications
requested:
Chief
Coulombe made a motion to request that minutes note his draft letter to
legislators re funding would have been submitted had he received proper &
timely communications and minutes from committee. Accepted.
Mr.
Forgea noted that several uncompleted tasks were not in minutes: the as yet not
received inventory and financial accounting for CMED and definitive statements
as to possible state funding for communications projects. Accepted.
Mr.
Forgea made a motion to include these and other such uncompleted tasks as
“Open” items in minutes. Accepted.
Discussion-
Numerous
comments asking “What are we here for?” How can we talk about money or funding
when we do not know what it is going for?
Chief
Zlogar: We need to complete our survey first before anything else.
Mr.
Andrews: Money for Region has already allocated, disbursed. Those funds do not go directly to
Communications.
Mr.
Cote: Discussion at the State Communications Committee also expresses
frustration with not knowing what, if any, funding is available.
Chief
Coulombe: Should the minutes be distributed to all emergency services?
Mr.
Andrews: This would be very expensive and maybe futile. Can we focus on key groups (i.e. L.E.E.P.S
for police) to make them aware of Committee and progress?
Chief
Zlogar: Perhaps we can simply periodically update these key agencies in some
other method. Action - Continue discussion later.
Propagation
Study:
Discussion-
Chief
Manners related his information from sources that the State Signal Propagation
study will only be a reprinting of that done for the State Police 800 Mhz
system. He pointed out that this is of
no practical significance for us because it is for entirely different bands and
frequencies.
Action- Still in progress
is work on how we can do our own study.
Region
Comm Survey:
Discussion-
Mr.
Cote states that the survey, while written, has not yet been mailed.
Action: Project incomplete
Logging
Recorders:
Discussion-
Mr.
Cote reports that Noble Hosp is installed. However N. Adams, Berkshire Med, and
Fairview will require technical assistance due to unexpected complications.
Action- Mr. Cote will
request funds from Exec. Council today.
State
Comm Committee:
Discussion-
Mr.
Cote reports that the State Com. Is now without a chairman due to Glenn Luedtke
leaving for another job. A replacement is being sought.
A
technical report given there noted that by 2006 only digital radios may operate
on designated Med Channels. An
unavoidable major upcoming expense.
Mr.
Forgea made a motion that in order to save time, Mr. Cote should submit written
reports on these topics. Accepted
Letter
to Legislature:
Chief
Coulombe presented draft letter to state reps asking assistance in ascertaining
funding for Communications projects.
Group discussion indicated that we should await the results of the Reg.
Council’s proposed “Legislative Breakfast”.
Action: Tabled to later
meeting.
Mailing
Lists:
Discussion –
Mr.
Cote pointed out that numerous attendees have not been receiving minutes and
notices. He is reforming the list of both mail and electronic addresses.
Action - Mr. Cote will
print full list for next meeting.
Permanent
Members:
Mr.
Cote offered for discussion the question of permanent membership to anchor the
Committee.
Mr.
Andrews noted that it is not within the Committees’ power to make such a
change, as it is only an advisory committee of the Regional Council. Further discussion concerned the narrow
composition of the Comm. so far.
Action: Topic closed.
CMED:
Mr.
Zlogar made a motion to hold the next meeting at AMR/Comm. to inspect CMED
installation and direct Mr. Cote to invite Jim Controvitch to make presentation
on CMED history and status.
Accepted.
Recorder
for Wing:
Discussion-
Mr.
Cote noted that there might be merit in offering the apparently duplicated
Franklin Med recorder to Wing ED. Mr. Andrew: Is this OK with Franklin? Is this OK with BHS? Will BHS offer the same access to the
recorder?
Action: Mr. Cote will
investigate this further but no action will be taken without further
consultation.
Next Meeting: February 1, 2001, 13:00Hrs
at AMR/Comm, 595 Cottage St, Springfield.
Mr. Cote will
arrange with AMR and will generate maps to site.
Adjourn:
Motion to adjourn. Motion approved unanimously.
Steve
Cote, Recorder