The town of Rotterdam will look at resolution to postpone the upcoming ambulance tax district vote from Tuesday, June 29, to October.
Proposed by town board member Nicola DiLeva, who asked the board to move the vote back to allow for additional information to be presented to residents of the town as well as give residents to vote in higher numbers, a issue that DiLeva presented in relation to the vote and the fourth of July holiday weekend. DiLeva would also like the town to explain to those in the community that may be confused about the upcoming vote that is for a taxing district, not a direct for Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services, or REMS.
If the vote passes, the district will be put out to bid against local emergency medical service providers to bring medical care to the town, starting in January of 2011.
Town supervisor Frank Del Gallo said that he would like to see the vote taken care of as soon as possible.
If it does get changed it does get changed, said Del Gallo. `I would like to see it done now to get it over with.`
Town board member Gerard Parisi also said during the Monday, June 7, meeting of the Rotterdam town board that he would like to see the date pushed back and the vote seems rushed and that residents may be confused by what the vote is exactly about.
`I think they think a vote yes is a vote for REMS,` said Parisi.
Town board member Matthew Martin said he is addressing the concept of moving the vote and is considering how the postponing of the vote may serve a purpose to town residents, not impair the ability of town officials to plan fiscally for the future and give the town time to adjust according to the outcome of the vote.
The town board will meet at the Rotterdam Town Hall on Wednesday, June 9 at 7 p.m.“
