Campobello council hears of emergency response complaint

Emergency response times again became the focus of discussion before the Campobello council. Resident Rhonda Cook addressed the council during the September 28 meeting, concerned about a delayed response to a 911 call for an ambulance for a family health emergency. "When they didn't show up in 40B45 minutes," she said, "I called again. They told me they were concerned about violence and were waiting for a police officer to assist." Cook said she questioned the dispatcher about that need and was told that something she had said had prompted that concern. "When they still didn't come," she said, "I called back to cancel. I put him in the car and took him to Machias." She said she questioned the dispatcher "whether she was making a call on her own or following a protocol" but did not receive a satisfactory answer.
Cpl. Jaysen Hansen of the RCMP was asked if he had any comment. Hansen, who regularly attends council meetings to provide updates on police matters, pointed out that he wasn't privy to the details of the case but that if an officer‑assist was deemed necessary it would require travel time. "The dispatcher has a lot of discretion in this," he said.
Mayor Stephen Smart stated, "The RCMP has gotten a lot better," but again confirmed that the island's isolation and low population size work against providing rapid police response. "I can't tell you we will have an officer on the island," he said. "We won't." Hansen added, "Bottom line is we want to have the best service time response." Smart promised Cook that the council would look further into the matter and continue to seek ways to improve service.

Other business
Kathleen Case appeared before the council on behalf of FogFest, whose request for $5,000 in funding during the August meeting had been tabled so that council members could review the documentation prior to a September 30 grant application deadline. "I have a problem with a 300% increase," said Councillor Katherine Breton, pointing out that the council had provided $1,500 for the 2015 event. Case explained that FogFest had added several new cultural events. "We didn't want to start with the whole monty," she said, "then have it go bust." Smart urged the council to consider the question, "Where do you want the festival to go?" Breton's motion that the council provide $3,500 was approved by unanimous vote.
The issue of how to best utilize the $367,000 Gas Tax Fund again came up. "We don't want to just send this back to Ottawa," said Smart, asking for suggestions from the councillors. After discussion the council voted to move forward with three requests. A portable 25-kilowatt generator would allow the Allan Seeley Community Room to be utilized as a "warming station," said Breton. "The Red Cross looked at this room and said it would work," she said. A community bus is on the list, which could be used to transport islanders to medical appointments and other purposes, said Breton. "If the council approves this," said Smart, "this could be a long‑term thing." Also requested was a community building, to be purchased as a pre‑fabricated steel structure. All three proposals were accepted by unanimous vote.
In other matters before the board, $4,000 was approved for repairs to the ClothesLine building, including needed roof repairs and also connection to a water supply. Councillor Candace Phinney urged the council to promote "volunteer awareness" to help find new members for important committees. Councillor Kevin Sawtelle pointed out that several committees were short‑handed. "In one case," he said, "we have one person wearing two and a half hats." The council also approved, in response to a letter received by Sawtelle, a letter of support for the activities of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers.