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May 5, 2006     Barnstable Patriot
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May 5, 2006
 
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FROM THE CEO By Wendy K. Northcross. CEO www.capecodchamber.org As international workers be- gin arriving for the season, the Cape Cod Chamber of Com- merce isrenewing its campaign to encourage them to get health and life insurance. The effort , called SHIP (Sea- sonal Health Insurance Pro- gram), is aimed at seasonal workers on H2-B visas and the businesses that hire them. Un- like the rules for holders of J-l student work visas,federal regu- lations do not require workers on employer-held H-2B visas to have health insurance. Cape Cod needs ahealthy and productive seasonal workforce. There are serious consequences to businesses and their custom- ers if workers don't show up for work because of illness or injury. For as little as a $1.30 a day, aninternationalworker may get coverage for illnessorinjurythat occurs whilethey are here, It's a small price to make sure that workersstayhealthyandremain on thejob when they are needed the most. Thecampaignisunderwritten by Cape Cod Healthcare Com- munity Benefits and supported by the network of community health centers on the Cape. The success of a pilot program in Provincetown last year con- vincedthe sponsors to broaden the effort to include Falmouth, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis and Orleans, as well as Prov- incetown. CapeCodHealthcareoftensees some of these seasonal workers when they seek help from Cape Cod Healthcare facilities. Like every other hospital inthe state, CapeCodHospitalandFalmouth Hospital are facing a growing number of uninsured patients and a rise in free care costs. While the hospitals uphold their obligationto care for all, regard- lessofthe patient'sabilityto pay, the state's Free Care program no longer reimburses expenses for non-residents. This, in turn, drives up the cost of health care to us all. This is national Cover the Un- insured Week. Individuals and organizations willjoin together thisweek to tell our leaders that health care coverage must be the top priority. When providers don't get paid, the cost of treat- ing uninsured seasonal workers gets necessarily passed along to everyone through increased fees and health insurance pre- miums. Working with a consultant , Jane Nichols Bishop of West Dennis, the Chamber and Cape Cod Healthcare have identi- fied two insurance firms that specialize in covering seasonal workers.They are International Medical Group, Inc. of India- napolis and SITE USA, Inc. of St. Petersburg. It's commonly known as "travel" health and life insurance, covering urgent health care while a worker is traveling or working outside of his or her country, and the cost of returning abody home in the event of death. According to Ms. Bishop: "While many H-2B workers who getjobsthrough organized recruitment programs pay for insurance as part of their pro- gram fee, many seasonal work- ers do not have any insurance coverage. It is that uninsured seasonal population that the program seeks to reach." In mailings,paycheck stuffers and meetings, the Chamber is urging workers to buy insur- ance on their own or partner with their employers to cover the cost. The recently-enacted Mas- sachusetts health insurance program does not specifically address coverage of non-Ameri- can workers. While the new regulations are being written and will clarify this point, we willcontinuewiththe voluntary campaign. Employers cannot requiresea- sonal workers to buy insurance but they can explain the impor- tance of having it. Employers may elect to help out by paying all or part of the premium and recover the expense from work- ers' wages during the season. Some employers may decide to pay the premium outright as part of a wage and benefit package. Either way, the U.S. Department of Labor has cau- tioned that payroll deductions for health premiums must be voluntary and cannot be a con- dition of employment. For further information on the program, employers should contact Clare O'Connor of the Cape Cod Chamber at 508 362-3225 Ext. 521 or at clarefa capecodchamber.org. Alternatively, contact Jane Nichols Bishop of Chip Bishop Communications at 508398-1997 or jane<§chipbishop.com. Q j ngQod C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E Community leader sees it as arm of Hyannis chamber By Edward F. Maroney emaroney@barnstablepatriot.com There used to be adisagreement be- tween people seekingchange:take it to the streets or move into the suites? Carlos Barbosa understands both perspectives,but inaweek when many immigrants stayed away from work to protesttheir situation,the Barnstable- based businessman was talkingabout his longstanding goal: creation of a Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. "The advantage is to have an orga- nized group of businesses in the com- munity who can talk to local officials about future opportunities," he said. "Brazilians need to be organized on some level, if not the community as a group, at least the businesses." From the beginning, Barbosa has seen such an organization as an arm of the Hyannis Area Chamber of Com- merce. "They're a big part of the business community,"said Peter Scarafile, who waspresident of the Hyannis chamber when he and then-executive director Lynne Poyant met several times with Barbosa. "Integrating them into the community would be a wonderful thing to do, and they can contribute to what goes on asthe chamber,within the system." CONTINUED ON PAGEA:14 A Brazilian chamber in Hyannis? Plan, Protect & Grow with People You Know •>DOWLING&0'NEIL Insurance Agency ¦ Since 1841 800-640-1620 ¦ 222 West Main Street, Hyannis ¦ www.doins.com /^22^ '^reat ^ates i—*i EAMILY CHOICE- Con^mitments Jf| A MORTGAGE CORP.^ • Fast Closings MM Mortgagesinyour best interest:" * All Mortgage B||| Bussiere ¦¦^^^^^^^^ M^^^^^^^^^^^ BProducts Loan 0fficer SfffTpT'aBTflpWffTH^^ 508-364-3164 Cell ¦PJP 4JP QB B | | | I H H H H . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ f^> 508-760-3444 Office J ^ ^ ^g^ j^ ^J^ ^ ^M n^l H a S a t a B X U a S a M S a M a U a M M k l ""r* bbussiere@familychoicemortgage com KEEPTHE TOWN STRONG... StopLocally! Seeking warm, nurturing, EEC certified teacher to care for children in our W. Barnstable & Harwich Childcare Center. Full time M-F 7:30-4:00 with Benefits and YMCA family membership, Also Part-Time (20 hr positions available) call Jane at 508-362-6500 x 108 or pick up application at YMCA CAPE COD 2245 Rt. 132, W. Barnstable, MA, 02668 EOE E-mailyour legaladsto Ie9als@barnstablepatri0t.com f \^ 1 {(M^MMMl ^¦ t a ^ Uinternet services Save over J1,000/year with our Small Business Plan! f l j M H i l P PH f l A No Contracts • No Hidden Fees • No Taxes BSJESESB H^ ^ ^ H One Call, One Bill Convenience P f fMf fW^ ^B All this is included FREE: KBf^^Sl^^^^a^a^a^B SpamNabDer Call Waiting ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ H jH H H H B j^ ^ ^ ^ B Virus Call Forwarding KMwPT^K i ih nE ^ ^ ^l M Remote DialupAccess Call Blocking flMMNflMHM BBBaH Webmail Speed Dialing ¦ i | ^gTj^STgir^^M^H Backup Email 3-Way Calling H H Ciller ID ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ B I^S j^^^^^ B Plus, freecallsto otherCapeComBroadbandVoiceUsers! ^ iust ^ I I 1 ¦ $99 B 508-539-9500 ^^monthl^y (capeeom ^fc^ linternet services www.cape.com S 509 Falmouth Road, Maihpee, MA 02649 r Cotoia signs with Bank of Cape Cod as executive VP By David Still II dstill@barnstablepatriot.com CONTRIBUTED PHOTO MAIKING THE MOVE-Mary Cotoia stands with her new colleagues at Bank of Cape Cod,which is planned to open for business inJuly. Cotoiawas namedexecutivevice presidentandchieflendingofficer last week. Pictured (L-R) are Ron Reed, executive vice president, chief financial officer andtreasurer; Cotoia; TimTelman, president and CEO; and Mark E. Carron, executive vice president. CitizenBank'slossisBank of Cape Cod's gain. Mary Cotoia, who until Tuesday was regional presi- dent for Citizens Bank for the Cape & Islands, was named last week as Bank of Cape Cod's executive vice president and chief lending officer. "Shewasprobablythebest fit for us," said Tim Telman, president of the proposed bank. "We wanted someone who shared our vision." Cotoia saidshestartedher career in banking nearly 20 yearsago at "amuch smaller bank," and looks forward to returning to the small environment. She said the "experience, the passion" of the board of directors and the founders wasalso astrongpulltoward the new bank. "When I think about the niche of the marketplace, I very much think that we have an underserved mar- ket ," Cotoia said. "That niche is going to be defined by our high-touch,fast turn- around and local decision- making." The abilitypf theproposed bankto pullaregionalpresi- dent from one of the larger banking concerns in the market adds credibility to the project , Telman said. "She gave up a lot and put a lot at risk to join us and that's exactly the kind of person we want to work with," Telman said. Cotoia 's responsibili- ties for the proposed bank will include directing and managing all commercial, consumer, and residential lending activities,according to Telman. Cotoia officially left Citi- zens Bank Tuesday and "willhitthe ground running" with Bank of Cape Cod on Monday. She lives in South Yarmouthwithher husband and three children. Raising Money The proposed Bank of Cape Cod is looking to be- come the onlylocally-owned commercial bank in the region. The bank is still working its way through the regulatory process, but has in hand initial state and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) approv- als. The next big hurdle is securing the needed capital to open. The state requires amini- mum of $8 million, but the bank's founders are aiming for $13 million. Telman said that $6 mil- lion of the $13millioncapital goal is " in the bank," with commitments "north of $10 [million]." Andwheredoesaproposed bank keep itsmoney? Inthis case, Cape Cod Cooperative Bank, Telman said. CONTINUED ON PAGE A:9 Citizens' regional prezjoinsstart-up bank English Editor 's note: Thefollowing announcement is printed in English, Portuguese and Span- ish. Translation are through the courtesy of attorney Ernest Hadley, chair of the Barnstable County Human Righs Commission. The Barnstable County Human Rights Commission will hold an Immigrants Town Meeting forum on Monday,May 8, at 7 p.m. at the Hyannis campus of Cape Cod Community College, 540 Main St.Theforum, cosponsored by the Cape Cod Immigrant Center and Cape and Islands Legal Services, will provide an opportunity for the Commission to introduce itself and explain its mission to the public and take comments on issues relating to hu- man rights and discrimination on the Cape. Spanish and Portuguese interpreters will be available. . Espanol . La Comisionde Derechos Huma- , nosdelCondado deBarnstableaus- .piciaraunaReunion ampliadapara , los inmigrantes el Lunes, May 8 a , las7p.m.enelcampusuniversitario * de Cape Cod Community College en Hyannis localizado en el 540 de la Main Street. Este foro, causpi- ciado por el Cape Cod Immigrant Center y el Cape and Islands Legal Services, es la oportunidad para que la Comision se de a conocer, presente sus objetivos alpublico y recibaloscomentariosenlostemas * relacionados con los derechos * humanos y la disciminacion en el * Cape. Seproveera interpretes para * espanol y portugues. • Portugues • A Comissao dos Direitos Hu- • manosdo Distrito de Barnstable • realizara uma reuniao sobre os • direitos dos Imigrantes, segun- • da-feira, 8de Maioas 19:00horas . noCapeCod CommunityCollege, t 540 Main St. A reuniao tem o apoio do Centro do Imigrante e do Legal Services do Cape Cod, e sera uma oportunidade para a ComissaodosDireitosHumanos • explicar sua missao ao publico ' e escutar depoimentos relacio- • nados aos direitos humanos e • descriminacao em Cape Cod. • Interpretes em Portugues e Es- • panol estarao disponiveis. Immigrants Town Meeting is Monday . Letters to the editor The Barnstable Patriot welcomes letters to the editor. Please keep them brief and either type or print them neatly. Include name, address and telephone number. Anony- mous letters will not be published , but names will be withheld upon request. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. THE BARNSTABLE PATRIOT, P.O. BOX 1208, HYANNIS, MA 02601 OR E MAIL TO letters@barnstablepatriot.com L S -»