Council to consider EMS stipends

The Cathlamet Town Council worked on parking, projects and policies when it met Tuesday for its monthly meeting.

The meeting got off to a late start as Councilmembers David Goodroe and Wally Wright, working as the voucher review committee, took extra time to study vouchers.

They came away with a split recommendation. Wright recommended approval of all vouchers, while Goodroe wanted to pull vouchers for uniforms and stipends for Cathlamet Fire Department personnel.

Wright said the stipends for fire department members is a new policy adopted and funded in the Emergency Services budget to compensate firemen who are on duty at specific times. The uniforms, he added, had been ordered in 2008 but didn't get delivered until 2009. The department budget showed funds for them last year but not this; however the department still had money for them.

The department's two assistant chiefs had signed the vouchers and recommended payment.

Goodroe commented that he had no problem with what the department was doing, but he was unaware of the changes until seeing the vouchers. He thought the council would want to have a better explanation for what changes had been made before approving the vouchers.

"I don't know how it plays out in the 2009 budget," he said.

"The town has many departments and the rules have to apply to all," said Councilmember Bob Rendler.

"This mayor is very supportive of emergency medical services and the fire department," said Mayor Dick Swart, "but nothing about this stipend payment was shared with me, so I can't explain it at all."

The council voted 4-1 to approve the vouchers with the exception of the fire department uniform and stipend vouchers. Wright opposed the motion, Goodroe, Rendler, Bill Talbott and Steve McNicholas voted in favor.

In other business:

--Swart reported completing several applications for funding for construction projects. He noted that the money is supposed to be federal economic stimulus money, but the state officials who will manage it are considering making the funds available through loans, not grants.

Swart said the town, which is working on constructing a new wastewater treatment plant, could decline the funds if they came as loans.

--Consulting engineer Ken Alexander reported design work is proceeding on several projects, and if funding is available, the town could call for bids in April.

Swart reported that firms interested in designing, building and operating the wastewater plant on a contract with the town are continuing to analyze numbers and feasibility. He added that he has obtained contracts and documents from towns and cities with this kind of arrangement and is studying them to see how much it would benefit the town.

--McNicholas presented research about mailboxes on streets and improving safety at the post office parking lot entrance.

If the town were to regulate placement of mailboxes, the best location would be to group them near corners, he said. This would preserve more parking spaces than allowing persons to put their mailbox directly in front of their residence.

To improve safety at the post office access, McNicholas recommended putting a line indicating drivers must stop before exiting the post office access to turn on to River Street. A stop sign could also be installed, he said. Councilmembers voted to approve recommended painted line and stop sign.

--The council approved a one-time adjustment in water bill for Northwest Properties. The firm had a break in a main on Elk Meadow Drive during the cold weather of December and January, and the bill, normally about $50 a month in the winter, was higher than normal. The council approved a reduction of $481.60.