It would be interesting to know the stats of how many calls Rotterdam takes and how many have to be farmed out to Mohawk. Where can we obtain those stats?
I was just reading some of these posts...wow.
To answer the above question, Rotterdam EMS has dropped, on average, more than HALF of their calls.
This is an issue I have followed very closely over the last several years and I can tell you all that some of the information your getting
seems to be misguided.
First of all, former Supervisor Joe Signore did not explore this issue (as stated in the posted Spotlight article) - former Supervisor John
Paolino did. One of the things he did was to conduct a series of meetings held at the fire departments around Rotterdam, the purpose
of which was to generate public input on the proposal of a new tax district for EMS - as is again being proposed at this time. As you can
imagine, most of those who attended were the volunteers themselves, volunteer firemen (who also have their own taxing districts) and
primarily those who would have an interest in advancing this proposal. This would include Jim Stairs, a guy who makes a sizeable income
for little in return... seriously. The fire departments of course do not want to be subjected to the future possibility of sharing of services,
facilities, etc., so naturally, they favor this plan. There was some discussion about putting the measure on a referendum ballot, but of
course the interested parties wanted a SPECIAL election, during mid-summer, at a cost of more than $30,000, when turnout would be
largely limited to those same interested parties. I personally do not think this measure would pass on a GENERAL ELECTION ballot.
Another part of this exploratory phase was the study performed by Dr.(I forget his first name now)Cazalet - a professional corporate
re-organizer specializing in medical facilities. Cazalet's analysis revealed that more than half of the volunteer squad's calls were dropped-
meaning that for one reason or another, they simply did not respond to those calls, and Mohawk would be summoned. An additional
number of emergency calls are re-routed to Mohawk due to Rotterdam EMS's lack of certain advance life support capacities, and the
certified professionals to administer such procedures. The Cazalet report also found severe mismanagement issues, which were believed
to be at the heart of the squad's financial woes.
At that time, the volunteers claimed that for just $17 per year, per resident, they could remain solvent. Again,
$17 per year, just a few years ago. As you all probably know, they are now insisting that it will be $25 per year. Herein lies one of the problems in creating
this new tax district - they will be free to raise the tax as they see fit. And I can assure you folks that the cost of municipal medical
services is astronomical...and rises rapidly. Once the tax district is created, you cannot take it back. If we're going to create a tax for this purpose, (and for the record, I HATE taxes of ALL kinds under ALL circumstances), it should be one levied by the town so it may be left
open to repeal. We don't know what will come of the volunteer squad, given their shaky managerial history, so the residents should have an escape should a better option develop at some point in the future.
Still, this, in my opinion, is neither a responsible nor a necessary option.
As it is, we are essentially paying a "flexible" tax to fund the EMS anyway, as the town has continually bailed out the volunteers - at a
cost of as much as $90,000 per event...mortgage woes, supplies, etc.
Contracting with Mohawk Ambulance offers nothing but advantages:
They would buy the building where an ambulance would be housed and on call 24/7, now making them a property taxpayer.
They would hire at least some, if not all, of the volunteers, now making them a job creator.
They would have all of the backup necessary in the event of multiple emergencies...Rotterdam EMS does not.
They have all advanced life support systems and the personnel to use it...Rotterdam EMS does not.
They will respond to ALL calls...Rotterdam EMS does not.
Their response times are consistently within the national average...Rotterdam EMS is not.
As costs rise, as they are certain to do, the increases are passed on to users of the service and/or their insurance companies...not the taxpayers at large. Additionally, the Mohawk proposal guarantees a minimum annual INCOME to the town of no less than $78,000 per year...
a simple matter of revenue vs. expenditure.
I realize there is an emotional component in the pro-volunteer service, and I know they do a fine job - when they are there. But again,
they would be retained through the employment agreement included in Mohawk's proposed contract...which is renewable and negotiable,
and therefore escapable if need be.
But if we were to honestly, and objectively weigh the options, the Mohawk proposal is the safest and most fiscally responsible option
available.
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