Meetings Ahead
Most meetings in Provincetown are held in person, typically with an online-attendance option. Click on the meeting you want to attend on the calendar at provincetown-ma.gov for a link to an agenda and details. All meetings are at town hall unless otherwise noted.
Thursday, July 18
- Board of Health, 4 p.m.
- Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m.
Monday, July 22
- Select Board, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, July 23
- Licensing Board, 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, July 25
- Planning Board, 6 p.m.
Conversation Starter
Benefits for Firefighters
The town’s newly appointed board of fire engineers met on July 11 to discuss the fire dept.’s staffing levels and possible improvements to the benefits the town offers its call, or volunteer, firefighters.
Fire Chief Jimmy Roderick chaired the meeting and was joined by Deputy Chief Othaine Rance, Engine 2 Capt. E.J. Martinez, Engine 4 Capt. David Gonsalves, and Provincetown Human Resources Director Katie Buckley.
One possible benefit could be a health savings account called a VEBA, or voluntary employee beneficiary association, said Rance. The town could contribute directly to these accounts to help call firefighters defray their out-of-pocket and deductible expenses, since it cannot offer health insurance to them, Rance said.
The town could also define a stipend to pay call firefighters covering night shifts, Rance said.
The board also discussed recruiting new volunteer firefighters, but Roderick said that should wait until an all-crew meeting had been held.
Eighteen volunteer members of the department resigned effective July 2, along with then-deputy chief Gerard Menangas and then-chief Mike Trovato.
Gonsalves said that recruitment usually starts with a dinner in September for potential recruits and ends when an engine company votes to accept a volunteer into its ranks.
“We could make a strong push in August” in advance of a September recruiting dinner, Buckley said. —Paul Benson
