Minutes - Special Meeting Mecklenburg Ambulance District Meeting

TOWN OF HECTOR
SPECIAL MEETING
March 23, 2015
Members Present:
Benjamin R. Dickens, Supervisor
Beverly Morley, Councilwoman
Robert “Bo” Lipari, Councilman
Alvin White, Councilman
Marie Stevens, Councilwoman
Michael Bergen, Councilman
Others: Wayne Lauper
Faye Kephart
Meg Gaige
Bob Barton
David Poyer
Dave Allen
Others:
Jane M. V. Ike, Clerk
Gerry Morley
Kathleen Weeks
Yvonne Foote
Jonathan Bernstein
Ralph Ward
Steve Taber
William Ward
Irene VanNederynen
Peg Poyer
Wayne Lauper
William Weeks
Colin McNaull
Anthony Longbucco
Dick Robertson
Brady McCord
Susan Robertson
Carl Taber
Nancy Irish
Meeting called to order by Supervisor Dickens. Purpose of meeting was to provide information to the
community regarding Ambulance coverage for the Mecklenburg Fire District. Supervisor Dickens gave
a brief review of the current ambulance coverage and a review of meetings held to date.
Councilman White presented a power point presentation covering number of calls, response times,
EMS logistics, Municipal Certificate of Need and options available to improve ambulance service to the
area of Mecklenburg Fire District. Final decision would be by petition signed by majority of residents of
public referendum to set up a special use district. If a special use district is set up for Trumansburg
Ambulance to cover the area there would be a charge on the January tax bill estimated to be $.45 per
thousand of assessed value; each ambulance ride is also charged to the patient’s insurance. Options:
Create district or stay with Schuyler.
Question: What difference does number of calls make?
Trumansburg currently has a process of using a 3 year rolling average to determine the amount for the
contract for each tax cycle; based on average of actual calls to each municipality. This actually
provides a very fair way to divide the budget over all municipalities contracted with.
Question: What are the boundaries?
It is anticipated that the special use district would be set up with the same boundaries as the current
Mecklenburg Fire District. Supervisor Dickens explained that if we proceed that a budget will need to
be determined for cost of creating the special use district; anticipate that would be $3000 or less
without a Municipal Certificate of Need. Schuyler Ambulance currently has the certificate of need for
all of Schuyler County. If a Municipal Certificate of need is required – the Town would absorb that cost.
The Town can by board resolution do a declaration of emergency need – then the Town would have 2
years to get the Municipal Certificate of Need.
Question: Insurance gets billed now and some people have copays also – will that be the same?
Setting up a special use district with Trumansburg providing the ambulance service will require a tax on
your bill and if you have insurance, it will be billed for the ambulance ride.
Town of Hector minutes – March 23, 2015 – continued
Page 2
Question: Who gets to vote?
Only property owners in the special use district get to vote on the creation of the district.
Question: When would billing start?
Anticipate this will take some time – most likely in 2017 – but if process moves along quicker, could be
January 2016.
Question: Is Trumansburg on board with this? As we will be paying twice due to taxes and billing, will
costs go up if there are no or minimum calls to the special use district?
They use a three year rolling average based on number of calls for determining the contract amount
that is billed through taxes; costs could vary some from year to year.
Question: Concerned with more calls require more personnel and more equipment – if Trumansburg is
not available, who will come?
Schuyler would most likely come; but could be Bangs out of Ithaca.
Tony Longbucco, VP of Schuyler Ambulance: Came tonight to see what information is being presented.
Third option could be a Mutual Aid agreement between Schuyler Ambulance and Trumansburg.
Councilman Lipari indicated response time is very important; either ambulance could be tied up at any
given time; generally Trumansburg can get here quicker; not sure mutual aid alone is the answer.
Question: Cost per call?
Councilman White reviewed the total calls for a three year period; would be able to calculate by
dividing into the total budget. Supervisor Dickens reviewed the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 budget
numbers for Trumansburg Ambulance district ($.72/$.40/$.50/$.46). Councilman White – based on
current rate of calls Mecklenburg would be 5% of their total budget.
Question: Tax rate is based on usage?
Yes, so it changes some every year based on the actual number of calls over the three year average.
Question: How many other complaints, other than the one call that took 55 minutes?
Councilman Lipari has personally heard of three. David Poyer, Mecklenburg Fire Co. President –
Mecklenburg has a top notch Rescue Squad. Susan Robertson – time and distance is important, not
fair for the Rescue Squad to have to sit and wait a long period of time for the ambulance to get there.
David Poyer – no cap on anything; tied to Trumansburg’s budget; what’s wrong with mutual aid alone;
concerned with uncontrolled rising costs. Councilman Lipari – hear concerns with cost; only matters to
you until that one call that comes too late and someone loses their life; time is crucial.
Councilman White – 10 years ago creating a special use district in Mecklenburg was voted down;
Trumansburg was unsure at that time about going to a billing process or not; we now have data that
shows actual costs, etc.
Question: Only a few residents here tonight, is the board going to find out what the rest of the
community wants? Councilman White – explained the options of doing nothing; getting signed
petitions; or voting at referendum. Supervisor Dickens indicated that the Town may do a mailing to
every property owner/residence with an invitation to a public meeting.
Town of Hector minutes – March 23, 2015 – continued
Page 3
Referendum time lines discussed; to get on the ballot in November, the referendum must be ready by
sometime in September.
Jonathan Bernstein – If had 10 calls with Charlie or Delta severity – critical – my cost would be about
$5.00 per call to save a life; response average of 20 minutes; these calls are critical; need to make time;
can afford this amount to save a family member or neighbor.
Councilwoman Morley – had issues and did not wait for the ambulance at 2:00am; was at the hospital
within 20 minutes; could not wait. Jonathan Bernstein and David Poyer both stated that Meck Rescue
can do more for you in that 20 minutes than no care during the driving time.
Question: What if Trumansburg and Schuyler are both out on other calls?
There is no guarantee that either one of them would always be available; Bangs does get called
occasionally. Meck Rescue first responders are quick, time adds up waiting for the ambulance. Rescue
Squads were established to provide care while waiting for the ambulance. Susan Robertson – this is
nothing against Schuyler Ambulance; time is important when it is critical.
Tony Longbucco, Schuyler Ambulance – we have been working with the Town Board and Trumansburg
Ambulance. Steve Taber, Meck Fire Company – mutual aid agreements are great if they are used as
they should be – does not always happen.
Question: Why is Bangs Ambulance not available to me on a pay as you go basis?
Possibly could be – unknown.
Discussion of basic life support versus advanced life support. Schuyler has one crew on duty 24/7 with
a paramedic/EMT; if that crew is out, a volunteer crew and driver is called for. Main issue is time –
time is muscle; time is brain. Discussion of moving forward to the entire community.
Tony Longbucco asked if the Town applies for and gets a Municipal Certificate of need, how are they
going to tax only Mecklenburg; where are the boundaries going to be? Councilman White explained
that the Town would create a special use district that is unique to the Mecklenburg area. Susan
Robertson – the Town taking over the Certificate of need would give the Town control to be sure the
best interest of the community was met; watching out for the residents. Councilman Lipari – we are
not questioning quality of service, strictly about time in reaching this corner of the Town/County.
Bob Barton – whole system is distance equals time; cannot ignore the past performance of the whole
system.
Question: What is the next step?
A mailing to all taxpayers/residents in the proposed district would be next.
Concern: Increases to taxpayers; keep piling on more; pay as you go would be better.
Councilwoman Stevens asked what happens if expenses in Trumansburg explode. Councilman White –
if the Town holds the certificate of need, we have the flexibility to change at any time.
Town of Hector minutes – March 23, 2015 – continued
Page 4
Both Schuyler and Trumansburg have indicated they need to have a mutual aid agreement; that
agreement must be arranged between the two ambulance corps. Dave Poyer – once it goes on the tax
bill, there is no guarantee the cost will remain reasonable.
Continued discussion: Time/distance is still an issue. Mutual aid is a special situation; if one cannot
respond there is a backup. Dave Allen asked if Trumansburg currently came to the Mecklenburg area.
Sue Robertson indicated they have a couple of times after Schuyler has been unable to respond. Dick
Robertson – for a long time Trumansburg was not included in Schuyler’s mutual aid plant; currently
improving on that. Sue Robertson explained how the process works when a call is received by the
dispatcher – there are currently 3 activations before the next ambulance would be called – that totals 9
minutes before another ambulance is called out if Schuyler is unable to respond; if Trumansburg is on a
call – it is automatically rolled to Bangs. Dick Robertson – Schuyler has over 2000 calls per year, is an
independent business, they need to be able to pay their bills too; Trumansburg has 700 to 800 calls per
year.
Councilwoman Stevens asked how many present would like the Board to continue to pursue –
approximately ½ present raised their hands to proceed. Supervisor Dickens thanked everyone for
coming.
Other Business:
Electric Lighting replacement program through NYSEG – we have recently found out that the costs
quoted did not prevailing wages listed for the labor, this raises our cost some; the rental of a high lift
for the Highway Garage will be $200 – amended total cost is $15,027.01; expect a 5-year payback on
cost.
RESOLUTION #38 – offered by M. Stevens, seconded by A. White
Resolved to accept the amended quote for replacement lighting through the NYSEG program with
Enerpath for the Town Hall and Highway Garage. Ayes 6, Nays 0
Adjourned at 8:25pm
Respectfully submitted,
Jane M. V. Ike, Clerk