Mohawk and REMS present Town Board with separate proposals
Rotterdam Town Board members are looking at the future of ambulance service in town and are scheduled to hear from at least two providers at a meeting tonight, Wednesday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
The town has gone through several ambulance providers through the years, which ultimately led to a consolidation of services and a contract with REMS, which costs the town $120,000 a year. James McPartlon, vice president of Mohawk Ambulance Services said his service will provide a revenue source of around $100,000 for the town and will require no subsidies.
Joe Vanderwerker, president of REMS Board of Directors, said the ambulance service’s nonprofit status makes it more reliable for residents.
You’re getting quality EMS service for the town, and you’re going to get it forever, said Vanderwerker.
He said a letter came `out of the blue` requesting REMS to give a presentation on Sept. 15 on why the town should continue to use its services.
`We are being forced to do this, and there is no way around this. We have no choice to give the presentation,` said Vanderwerker. `I was really pissed off about it because we have been providing service since 1936 for the town.`
REMS has had some financial difficulties in the past resulting in unpaid taxes, but Vanderwerker said the organization is `in the black` in regard to IRS payments and plan to have them paid off by 2012.
Mohawk’s McPartlon said his service will result in savings for the town.
`What we’ve purposed to do is provide the town a revenue stream for the services that are provided by their paramedics,` said McPartlon. `I’m not asking for a subsidy and I’m not asking for a tax district so there is substantial financial savings to the town and the residents. Yeah, we bill, but so does REMS and frankly they bill just as much as we do.`
Vanderwerker has said REMS would like to set up a taxing district for their service, similar to how fire departments have fire districts. Overseeing it would be a five-member board serving five-year terms and elected by the public.
`If we did put in for a tax district, said Vanderwerker, `our payroll will come strictly out of our insurance billing.`
Vanderwerker said Town Supervisor Frank Del Gallo’s suggestion that REMS be run like a business is unrealistic because it is providing a vital service to residents.
`I’m not against [Mohawk], these are just the facts; they can’t do it and we can,` said Vanderwerker.
McPartlon said he believes Mohawk is actually a better fit for the town.
`Our proposal to the town has been the same since day one, and we are unwavering in our belief that we can provide better service to the town at a more reasonable economic level than they are currently getting,` said McPartlon.
Vanderwerker said he worries about Mohawk being the sole ambulance provider for the town.
`If they have a monopoly on Rotterdam and if all of a sudden they don’t meet their commitment, there is going to be a lot of irate residents,` said Vanderwerker. `Mohawk also is a for-profit organization and Rotterdam EMS is a nonprofit organization. If they start to lose money and they raise their rates, you are going to be stuck with them.`
Richard Brandt, vice president of operations at Mohawk, said they have a proven service record with other communities.
`If we didn’t perform well in other markets and other places, we wouldn’t be here to talk to you today,` said Brandt.
Also, Brandt said if Mohawk were chosen, REMS employees would be given a hiring preference.
`We would give them preference in hiring as long as they are qualified and meet our admission standards,` said Brandt.
Check back to our website later for an update after the meeting
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