Quoted from Hack

It's really the only way he and those of his ilk can campaign against the tax district: From afar and behind a curtain.

Who are his "ilk" and why are politicians so scared to confront this issue head on?  The historical facts about REMS are, they have been nothing but a drain on the Rotterdam taxpayer since they began doing business in Rotterdam.  Are all political parties somehow held hostage by REMS, that if they were to state these uncomfortable facts about REMS they would all suffer the same fate as Mertz?  I don’t understand why people are tip toeing around this issue?

Quoted from Hack

As usual, many of you can't see the forest through the trees.

First of all, the powers that be are doing EVERYTHING they can to ensure Mohawk is the provider. BG is the driving force and FDG is along for the ride. If you all just stopped interfering, the so-called "anti-REMS" contingent would get exactly what it wants. Why the hell do you think BG brought this point about the ALS payments up NOW, and not six months ago? He's known about it all along. The reason? So that it smears REMS in the days running up to the vote. It's really the only way he and those of his ilk can campaign against the tax district: From afar and behind a curtain.

Next, there's NOTHING illegal about the resolution. FDG can say whatever he wants about the ramifications of the resolution, it doesn't mean squat. In fact, it's only THIS ADMINISTRATION'S opinion that the resolution CAN'T include mention of REMS. The prior administration and REMS' attorney had no problem at all with doing so.

And lastly, the contract for ambulance service DOES NOT need to be bid out for crying out loud. Have any of you been paying attention to this issue?!? This is not a bridge we're building here people. THIS IS AMBULANCE SERVICE. They are two TOTALLY different things. End of story. FDG tried to pull that card last spring and it failed for the simple reason that obviously Mohawk would win if it were to come to the competitive bidding process thereby making this whole BS about a vote 'to see what the residents want' superfluous.

Oh we're seeing the forest through the trees alright Hack...an unnecessary tax that amounts to unlimited public funding for another
patronage mill.

If the "powers that be" really wanted to ensure that Mohawk were the tax-free provider, they would never have scheduled a vote they
are not obligated to hold...and they would have signed a contract with Mohawk by now.

REMS, the former administration and the former town attorney never had to address the designation issue because originally it was
never the intention of Tommasone et al to put it up on a referendum...they intended to enact the district by a simple vote of the
Board and name REMS the provider...deferring the vote to the public was only retaliation for political backstabbing that was just too
hard to resist...and the "vote" was left in limbo, pending election results.

FDG and Godlewski are always criticizing "the previous administration"...I don't know why they would continue with this scheme,
especially under the latest circumstances, in the name of honoring one of their promises...they are acting as if this is a decision
that should be made by the voters as opposed to the Board...when in fact it is a decision that does not have to be made at all.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Vote YES on December 14

Let me guess - there's a $45K assistant deputy REMS clerk position possibly opening on December 15th.

Has anyone else received the robo-call regarding the taxing district and REMS?   It stated that there was another option that would make money for the town.  Then it asked whether you would vote yes (press 1 ) or no (Press  2) for the taxing district.

Got it - Pressed 2

Quoted from CICERO

Got it - Pressed 2

Ditto on my end  -- pressing 2 is a no-brainer!!!

Quoted from clubhouse

Has anyone else received the robo-call regarding the taxing district and REMS?   It stated that there was another option that would make money for the town.  Then it asked whether you would vote yes (press 1 ) or no (Press  2) for the taxing district.

Yes...I received one around 6:30 tonight.

Pressing #2 is a no brainer!

Got it pressed #2.

Gadfly - I don't have those answers for you, but I suspect it has something to do with proving the residents don't want REMS as their provider. Trust me on this one, BG is NOT a fan of REMS. If he had his druthers, he would have crushed them the last time he was on the board(which he tried to do...hence the no contract for years upon years). Also, you have to realize these guys typically let things that are already in motion stay in motion. For instance, has anyone heard about the GAR lawsuit being discontinued? I sure haven't...and that was one of BG's big beefs with the prior admin. I think they even used it as a campaign point at one time... BTW - The 'deferring to the public' was a last ditch effort by the former super to win election, not political retribution. Or at least not from what I've heard. He actually had the votes on the board to push it through, but it would have been political suicide. But it didn't matter in the end...

Cicero - BG voted 'yes' because FDG 'promised the people a chance to vote' or something like that...I can't remember the exact wording. It had NOTHING to do with him supporting it. And I challenge you to show otherwise. Again, I have a feeling this whole charade has to do with building a case to yank REMS certificate of need. Mark my words, whichever way this vote goes, there will be litigation. And guess what's going to fund that? Mmmmm....taxes....And this is kind of my point: If town leaders stood by their beliefs --or even HAD beliefs untangled from politics --we'd see taxes going down.

In this case, the easiest way to couch the whole issue would have been to tell Mohawk the town won't even consider a switch of providers until the end if 2011, budget the usual amount of money for REMS then put the tax district up to vote. If it's shot down, then start the next discussion: Do we want to fund REMS through the general fund. By that point, the board would have a better idea of what REMS financial needs are...Have a public hearing and the do a straight-up vote among the board. Then you find out where their true allegiances lie.

Instead, they're always pandering to one side or the other. Too many politics. Then a simple decision(ambulance tax or no ambulance tax) turns into a widely convoluted one(REMS or Mohawk), which gets too murky for any rational decision...and then the lawyers come in. I'm calling it here, people. You just watch...There will be lots of legal bills arising from this one. Legal bills that will make a $20 per year tax look like penny candy.

On a final, largely speculative note, I suspect the fine line running between support for REMS and advocating for Mohawk has a lot to do with not ticking off the dreaded conservative(police) vote. I suspect the police union supports REMS, because that keeps the town's paramedic service at status quo. If Mohawk gets the contract, how long is it going to be until some politician suggests giving them the ALS contract too? Especially if...(now here's the kicker)...there's no agreement in place for BILLING. Ditching REMS and the paramedics could be done by contracting with Mohawk and would save taxpayers somewhere to the tune of $600,000. That's one hell of a tax decrease eh? And it's an easy one to sell if the unionized paramedics aren't making any money for the town... Hmmm...deep thoughts...

Think outside the box on this one folks. There's more here than meets the eye.  

Quoted from clubhouse

Ditto on my end  -- pressing 2 is a no-brainer!!!

because those who oppose REMS have no brain

Why is rotterdam even thinking of funding a non-profit through a taxing district?

Is that even legal???

Quoted from Hack

On a final, largely speculative note, I suspect the fine line running between support for REMS and advocating for Mohawk has a lot to do with not ticking off the dreaded conservative(police) vote. I suspect the police union supports REMS, because that keeps the town's paramedic service at status quo. If Mohawk gets the contract, how long is it going to be until some politician suggests giving them the ALS contract too? Especially if...(now here's the kicker)...there's no agreement in place for BILLING. Ditching REMS and the paramedics could be done by contracting with Mohawk and would save taxpayers somewhere to the tune of $600,000. That's one hell of a tax decrease eh? And it's an easy one to sell if the unionized paramedics aren't making any money for the town... Hmmm...deep thoughts...

Think outside the box on this one folks. There's more here than meets the eye.  

          I have to agree with Hack.  The law suits will be flying.  This is why the audit is so critical along with an AG investigation, it will provide the needed "out" to the T.B.  The referendum should only have been for Ambulance District or not.  And the referendum is only a payment mechanism.  If a company will provide the service at a profit to the Town, there is no cost hence no need for an Ambulance District, and no need for the referendum.  The T.B. now has themselves between a rock and a hard place on this.  As the saying goes, "When you're in a hole, quit digging!"  The audit is there only "out" because they can rescind the resolution based on new found information.  At this juncture, it should go to bid, and let the best man win.  If REMS loses the bid and they want to remain in business, and if individuals still want to support them, that choice would be up to the individuals.  If you seek, need, desire a "special provider", then this comes at a premium, and those who choose this option should be the ones to pay for it.  I have had one ride in an ambulance due to a motorcycle accident that was not my fault, and I can assure you that when a crisis time comes, you could care less who the transporter is.