Town of Rotterdam officials are considering whether they want to continue using government-funded Rotterdam EMS for emergency medical services or switch to privately owned Mohawk Ambulance Service.
It’s a complicated matter because the town can’t just go out and decide we’re going to forsake Rotterdam EMS and go with private industry, because private industry offers no guarantees, said Rotterdam Supervisor Steven Tommasone.
If the town continues using Rotterdam EMS, it will have to create a new taxing district. If it goes with Mohawk Ambulance Services, there will be no additional cost to taxpayers.
A decision could be made as early as this week, but Tommasone said it looks like the town will continue using Rotterdam EMS as their ambulance service.
`I don’t speak for the entire board or for Mohawk Ambulance Service or Rotterdam EMS, but I can tell you who I do speak for, and that’s the people in the town,` said Tommasone. `When I see people around town they all tell me the same thing, which is resoundingly that they want to keep what we have, and they want to find a way for us to ensure that Rotterdam EMS can continue.`
To continue using Rotterdam EMS, the town will have to create a special tax district similar to ones used for the fire department and other public safety departments.
There are no numbers yet on how much taxpayers would be charged, but, according to Tommasone, it will be minimal.
According to Tommasone, the majority of the board agrees that the town needs to fund its own EMS operation.
`What we’ll do is we’ll go through this year with a contract with Rotterdam EMS, and from there we’ll establish a tax district and go through just as we do with our fire district or water district,` said Tommasone.
Tom Nardacci, spokesperson for Mohawk Ambulance, which has locations in Albany and Schenectady, said that they have offered the town an alternative plan.
`Put the brakes on before you rush to a decision,` said Nardacci.
`Mohawk Ambulance is already in the town every day anyway because we provide mutual aid for whatever they’re lacking, whatever they can’t provide. We’re saying we have the capability to handle all of Rotterdam’s calls.`
Mohawk Ambulance is offering to take over the service at no extra cost to the town. They announced that they are prepared to offer the following to Rotterdam EMS: a `bailout loan` to Rotterdam EMS consisting of three months operating expenses for wages, vehicle upkeep and fuel. During this three-month period, Rotterdam EMS would have to agree to deposit all of its receipts into an escrow account, which would be held by the town.
Mohawk Ambulance Service and the Town of Rotterdam would then negotiate the terms of their agreement, whereby Mohawk would provide exclusive ambulance service to the town of Rotterdam beginning at the end of this three-month period. Mohawk Ambulance Service would purchase all assets owned by Rotterdam EMS, including vehicles and equipment.
Nardacci said the company would also hire all of Rotterdam emergency workers so long as they met the company’s employment criteria.
`We have to make sure everyone is up to the same standards. I don’t know if there’s a set list of specific criteria. I think the basic thing is make sure they have all their training and certification,` said Nardacci.
Tommasone said that he believes Mohawk Ambulance does a `good job` and that he supports private industry. However, he wants to ensure the town has its own Emergency Medical Service responders.
Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services declined to comment.“