Teens Fall Through Ice In Natick Pond

 

Photo by Faith Ninivaggi

Two Natick firefighters risked their own safety to rescue a pair of frostbitten teenage boys who had fallen through the ice at Natick’s Pickerel Pond, plunged into the frigid waters below and then dragged themselves out only to remain nearly paralyzed by cold 60 feet out on the ice.

NATICK (WBZ) ?

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Rescue crews pull the teens up a hill after the boys fell in Pickerel Pond Saturday.

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Two Natick teenagers were rushed to area hospitals Saturday afternoon with severe hypothermia after they both fell through ice on a pond.

The teens managed to get themselves out of the icy water after crashing through Pickerel Pond.

Pickerel Pond is a popular hiking area located off Harwood Road.

Neighbors were out shoveling when they heard the boys screaming. Crews had to trek 10 minutes into the woods to reach the pond. They rushed to rescue the boys, who were suffering from severe hypothermia.

Fire crews said people should never go on the ice and should never assume it's safe.

It's unclear what the boys were doing on the pond because it's not completely frozen.

Two firefighters also suffered hypothermia during the rescue and were treated and released. The boys are listed in stable condition.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Click here to see video courtesy Channel 4 News

Subject: Municipal Meltdown, GIC, Local aid


Gentlemen,

Secretary-Treasurer Ken Donnelly and myself testified before the
Special Legislative Committee on Municipal Relief, Chaired by Senator
Rosenberg and Representative Donato on December 03, 2008. This
committee is charged with making recommendations to assist
municipalities during this economic downturn.  The Committee was to
report their findings and recommendations on December 15, 2008 but this
date has been postponed to a future date.

The Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) and The Boston Municipal
Research Bureau also testified.  Their absurd recommendations and "Wish
List" recommended the following; abolish civil service, abolish
collective bargaining, abolish injury on duty benefits and decimate
retirement benefits, the unilateral imposition into the State's Group
insurance plan etc. etc. etc.

The Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts recommended the
following:

*     A partnership with the Federal Government, State Government and
Municipal Government leaders requesting a 60 billion dollar reform
package for States and Municipalities from the U.S. Congress as soon as
possible.

*    A public safety summit with stakeholders to reach consensus on
issues to mitigate cutbacks in fire and police services.

*    The implementation of a two year budget for fiscal year 2010 and
2011 that holds local aid to municipalities harmless.  Funded from the
so called "rainy day fund". A 5 to 10% reduction of local aid in the
Fiscal 2010 budget would be ill advised as it would cause disaster
throughout the Commonwealth. A cut in local aid would cause layoffs to
the fire service that is already understaffed thereby causing
additional fires and injuries that would further devastate all
communities.

*    We would support revenue enhancements such as Slot machines,
Casino gambling., Hotel tax, fuel tax, food tax., etc.,

*  Increase assessment to the Fire Insurance industry (Chapter 175.,
Sec 195) for direct funding  to the Fire Service for the operations of
Fire Departments.

*    "Pension Holiday" and Early Retirement Proposal: Both of these
were legislated in 2003 to assist during that recession. Allow
Retirement Systems to manage their own assets.  Assets can be returned
to systems from PRIT after five years Chapter 68 of 2007.

*     New Legislation pushing back the full funding date for retirement
systems to 2048 from 2028 This is a must due to the historic losses in
the market since the first of the year over 30% in losses in pension
assets.

*    A strong message from Legislators to Municipal Management that
Municipal management should manage and not cry.  Work with their
respective unions to address health insurance costs.

*    New Legislation allowing The GIC to adopt Health Insurance
reimbursements and savings accounts for participants and the
exploration of additional and optional health insurance plans
addressing needs of participants.

*    Review Chapter 46 of the Acts and Resolves of 2003 .

We pledged our full support and cooperation to work with all the
legislators in the spirit of committed and dedicated public service
professionals working for the people of Massachusetts.

Fraternally,

Bob McCarthy, President
Professional Firefighters of Ma.

02108

Eliminating Collective Bargaining will not Solve Municipal Health Insurance Crisis

BOSTON – Responding to Speaker Sal DiMasi’s announcement this week that he plans to file a bill that would amend the recently passed Group Insurance Commission (GIC) law, Robert B. McCarthy, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts (PFFM), reiterated the union’s strong opposition of taking health insurance out of collecting bargaining and allowing municipalities to unilaterally join the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Group Health Insurance Plan.

“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to healthcare and stripping employees of their collective bargaining rights would roll the clock back 50 years in progress made in labor-management relations in Massachusetts,” McCarthy said. “Quality healthcare is of vital importance to not only firefighters, but teachers, police officers and other municipal leaders, and each city and town should be able to decide their best option.”

Chapter 67, known as the GIC option, was approved by the Legislature last year and allows municipalities to enter the GIC on October 1^st of each year after negotiating the change and with at least 70% approval by public employee unions and retirees. Speaker DiMasi’s bill would unilaterally require employees to receive their health insurance through the GIC without union approval.

The PFFM released a white paper, Municipal Employee Health Insurance: The GIC Option, in October which examined the differences between the GIC and municipal plan. Health care benefits are often a key component of an employee’s benefit package. A survey of PFFM Locals found that nearly 70% pay more than 20% of the premium cost. In fact almost 20% of the Locals pay 50% of the premium. The white paper suggests alternative cost-saving preventable measures for cities and towns, such as implementing aggressive wellness and disease management programs, joining purchasing groups to pool their expenses, and managing their health claims trust funds.

“Considering our hazardous occupation - with the increase of co-pays, deductibles, utilization fees, outpatient surgery, prescription drugs and mental health cost - a member could see their out-of-pocket cost reach several thousand dollars a year in the unfortunate event that they become sick or injured,” McCarthy continued. “As firefighters, we have a moral obligation not to allow this to happen to one of our brothers or sisters. We risk enough from daily exposures to sickness, toxins and hazards; we should not have to risk our financial security!”

As Chapter 67 enters year two, the current law should be maintained so that all municipal employees have a say in their health benefits. “Firefighters were proud to work alongside municipal and state leaders to pass a law that gives communities options and still gives employees a seat at the table. We must have faith in our municipal leaders, their employees, and the local unions, to have the foresight to see the options and ultimately make the decision that is best for them,” McCarthy concluded.

The Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts represent more than 12,000 professional fire fighters from across the Commonwealth. More information can be found at www.pffm.org. Website members may find the White Paper titled PFFM Position Paper on GIC UPDATED in the Downloads area under Member Resources.