Proposed REMS audit remains unscheduled
The long wait is over emergency medical service providers can now submit bids to provide service for Rotterdam.
For several weeks a resolution has appeared on the Rotterdam Town Board’s agenda to authorize Supervisor Frank Del Gallo to go out for bids for Basic Life Support services and reimbursement of Advance Life Support Services for the town. During its Wednesday, March 23, meeting, the board approved the resolution, which means the town is moving closer to an agreement after the tax district vote that would have provided funding for Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services failed in December by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.
There was no discussion by board members before unanimously voting on the resolution to authorize the bids.
An outspoken critic of REMS and Rotterdam resident Kelly Rhinesmith questioned what is happening with the proposed audit on REMS.
All along the way, we have had at least three or more proposals by the supervisor to audit REMS over the ALS that has been missing from the town coffers,` said Rhinesmith. `That contract would designate the EMS provider and that service would always be the first dispatched to all emergencies.`
This would mean whoever is designated handles the majority of billing, said Rhinesmith, which concerned her since there are proposed audits still pending.
`We could be risking a company that we know now has gone though untold amount of money,` she said of REMS. `We are not just talking about small change, we are talking about potentially what is hundreds of thousands of dollars. In my opinion, I think it would be irresponsible until we can at least determine what happened to this money.`
REMS attorney Frank Salamone previously stated the company had kept revenue received from ALS billing after an oral agreement was reached with the previous board, and the money was used for `operational costs,` but Del Gallo has said he wants to see a written agreement or an approved resolution.
`Where is the audit, and are we even going to consider [a bid from REMS] unless and until these questions can be answered and any related determinations can be made?` asked Rhinesmith.
Del Gallo had sent a letter to REMS saying the Town Board would obtain independent auditors, but a vote on the resolution was delayed until the tax district vote was completed and has yet to resurface.
`As far as the money in the audit, you just don’t push the state into doing something, they do it when they get to it,` said Del Gallo. `Once the audit is done, and if we find some money is missing or not then at least we will have a chance to get that money, hopefully.`
Rhinesmith had also questioned if it was necessary to have a formal bidding process since it won’t be costing the town money, but Del Gallo said due to the amount of potential revenue, it is needed.
`Whether its REMS, Mohawk, or the man on the moon, we don’t care, because it still has to go out for bid because of the cost,` said Del Gallo.
Until an audit is completed, Del Gallo said he thought `you were innocent until you were proven guilty.`
Ronald Severson, chairman for the town Parks and Recreation Committee, said the condemning remarks about REMS should be saved until after an audit is done and solid evidence is presented.
`While I’m concerned about the monies that were billed, I think we should avoid using words like pilfered or mismanaged or whatever until the actual investigation and audit is done,` said Severson. `REMS has done a lot of good work in this town, so to start using words that suggest anything has been proven I think is inappropriate.`
Besides REMS, the other company that has expressed interest in providing emergency services for the town is Mohawk Ambulance Service, which currently does serve residents when REMS isn’t able to make a call.
Salamone said REMS is going to be submitting a proposal to the town.
`Members of the board said they were going to go out to bid and that is what they are going to do,` said Salamone. `At this point, they are putting together their bid package. I would imagine that it would reflect the contract proposal that I had drafted when we were talking about getting the contract.`
Salamone also continued to contest that REMS has done anything wrong in regards to the proposed audit.
`They did nothing wrong,` said Salamone.“
