Town to negotiate ALS fees collection from company
The Rotterdam Town Board chose the not-for-profit Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services over Mohawk Ambulance Service to provide ambulance service for the town for the next two years.
Discussions have stretched on for months about which ambulance service provider should be awarded a contract, but the decision during the board’s meeting on Wednesday, May 11, happened swiftly.
REMS will provide the service, and the town will collect advanced life support fees obtained by REMS, but the service would be up for bid again in two years. Supervisor Frank Del Gallo said the decision for the board was mostly based on what would cost the residents the least.
“The bids from REMS were lower to pick up people, so it saves the taxpayers money and that is what it is all about, the taxpayers,” said Del Gallo. “They were both basically going to give us the same amount of money back.”
Also, while REMS’ bid said there would be a $10 Advance Life Support billing fee collected by the company for each claim, it changed its position to offer it free. Before Mohawk submit ted a bid, representatives suggested they would charge a percentage based on the amount of ALS fees given to the town. The bid submitted to the town offered this service free of charge, which came as a surprise to REMS officials.
Since Mohawk would still service the town when REMS can’t answer a call, Del Gallo said the competition would be good for business in terms of billing prices. Supporters of REMS warned the Town Board about dissolving the volunteer service.
“I didn’t think two companies would fight so hard for business in the Town of Rotterdam if there wasn’t any business there,” said Del Gallo. “I think it is always healthy for business if you have … competition,” said Del Gallo. “When there is competition, it makes the prices right.”
Del Gallo said the decision was not made to secure the recovery of ALS fees previous already collected by REMS but not turned over to the town.
Board member Wayne Calder, abstained from voting, and Nicola DiLeva was absent, but the 3-0 vote in support of REMS was enough to make the decision final either way. Right before choosing REMS, the board also unanimously voted in support of allowing Supervisor Frank Del Gallo to negotiate reimbursement of advanced life support money previously collected by REMS. If negotiations fail, the town would proceed with litigation, but REMS seemed willing to reach an agreement.
“We look forward to discussions with the supervisor to settle the question on the advance life support reimbursements from the past, and we look forward to continuing our service to the town that we have been doing for over 75 years,” said Peter Brodie, spokesman for REMS, before the vote.
Calder previously said his son-in-law works for Mohawk, so he had the Town Attorney David Devaprasad look into any potential legal conflict legally in his voting to award a bid. While Calder didn’t see a conflict, nor did his personal attorney, Devaprasad recommended he didn’t vote. State law didn’t appear to restrict Calder, he said, but the town code is stricter.
“This isn’t what I wanted. I wanted to be able to vote,” said Calder. “After being here for 30 years I have worked with all the ambulances, including Mohawk and REMS. ... If anybody knows about emergency services, I do.”
DiLeva said during the board’s agenda meeting on Monday, May 9, she would “rush” over to try and be present for the vote, but the May 11 meeting was on the same night of a previous engagement. Months in advance, she informed the board she wouldn’t be available on that evening.
Before casting the first vote in favor of REMS, Deputy Supervisor Robert Godlewski noted it has taken the current board a year and a half to reach the decision.
“We have that process that calls for bidding this service out every two years and because we have that process in place, everybody understands the rules of the game as we go forward,” said Godlewski.
After the vote, James McPartlon, vice president for Mohawk, was disappointed by the town’s decision. He couldn’t confirm or deny if Mohawk would submit another bid proposal in two years.
Tom Nardacci said in a statement, “We are disappointed by the actions of the Town board tonight. We put forward a tremendous proposal that would have benefited the taxpayers of Rotterdam and ensured top notch service and care.”
Brodie commented the board hasn’t questioned the service provided by REMS.
“There has never been a question on the quality of care they provide,” said Brodie. “It is a blessing from the town board to the organization that allows them and recognizes them for outstanding service.”
Del Gallo said the town would sit down with REMS to discuss how many calls were made and how much money was collected in previous ALS fees that weren’t given to the town. REMS has said there was a verbal agreement from the previous administration for them to keep the funds.
“Instead of having litigation and spending money on lawyers, we will just come to an agreement,” said Del Gallo. “We don’t want to go to litigation … they are a good company.”..........................>>>>................................>>>>..............................http://www.spotlightnews.com/news/view_news.php?news_id=1305818261
Town to negotiate ALS fees collection from company
The Rotterdam Town Board chose the not-for-profit Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services over Mohawk Ambulance Service to provide ambulance service for the town for the next two years.
Discussions have stretched on for months about which ambulance service provider should be awarded a contract, but the decision during the board’s meeting on Wednesday, May 11, happened swiftly.
REMS will provide the service, and the town will collect advanced life support fees obtained by REMS, but the service would be up for bid again in two years. Supervisor Frank Del Gallo said the decision for the board was mostly based on what would cost the residents the least.
“The bids from REMS were lower to pick up people, so it saves the taxpayers money and that is what it is all about, the taxpayers,” said Del Gallo. “They were both basically going to give us the same amount of money back.”
Also, while REMS’ bid said there would be a $10 Advance Life Support billing fee collected by the company for each claim, it changed its position to offer it free. Before Mohawk submit ted a bid, representatives suggested they would charge a percentage based on the amount of ALS fees given to the town. The bid submitted to the town offered this service free of charge, which came as a surprise to REMS officials.
Since Mohawk would still service the town when REMS can’t answer a call, Del Gallo said the competition would be good for business in terms of billing prices. Supporters of REMS warned the Town Board about dissolving the volunteer service.
“I didn’t think two companies would fight so hard for business in the Town of Rotterdam if there wasn’t any business there,” said Del Gallo. “I think it is always healthy for business if you have … competition,” said Del Gallo. “When there is competition, it makes the prices right.”
Del Gallo said the decision was not made to secure the recovery of ALS fees previous already collected by REMS but not turned over to the town.
Board member Wayne Calder, abstained from voting, and Nicola DiLeva was absent, but the 3-0 vote in support of REMS was enough to make the decision final either way. Right before choosing REMS, the board also unanimously voted in support of allowing Supervisor Frank Del Gallo to negotiate reimbursement of advanced life support money previously collected by REMS. If negotiations fail, the town would proceed with litigation, but REMS seemed willing to reach an agreement.
“We look forward to discussions with the supervisor to settle the question on the advance life support reimbursements from the past, and we look forward to continuing our service to the town that we have been doing for over 75 years,” said Peter Brodie, spokesman for REMS, before the vote.
Calder previously said his son-in-law works for Mohawk, so he had the Town Attorney David Devaprasad look into any potential legal conflict legally in his voting to award a bid. While Calder didn’t see a conflict, nor did his personal attorney, Devaprasad recommended he didn’t vote. State law didn’t appear to restrict Calder, he said, but the town code is stricter.
“This isn’t what I wanted. I wanted to be able to vote,” said Calder. “After being here for 30 years I have worked with all the ambulances, including Mohawk and REMS. ... If anybody knows about emergency services, I do.”
DiLeva said during the board’s agenda meeting on Monday, May 9, she would “rush” over to try and be present for the vote, but the May 11 meeting was on the same night of a previous engagement. Months in advance, she informed the board she wouldn’t be available on that evening.
Before casting the first vote in favor of REMS, Deputy Supervisor Robert Godlewski noted it has taken the current board a year and a half to reach the decision.
“We have that process that calls for bidding this service out every two years and because we have that process in place, everybody understands the rules of the game as we go forward,” said Godlewski.
After the vote, James McPartlon, vice president for Mohawk, was disappointed by the town’s decision. He couldn’t confirm or deny if Mohawk would submit another bid proposal in two years.
Tom Nardacci said in a statement, “We are disappointed by the actions of the Town board tonight. We put forward a tremendous proposal that would have benefited the taxpayers of Rotterdam and ensured top notch service and care.”
Brodie commented the board hasn’t questioned the service provided by REMS.
“There has never been a question on the quality of care they provide,” said Brodie. “It is a blessing from the town board to the organization that allows them and recognizes them for outstanding service.”
Del Gallo said the town would sit down with REMS to discuss how many calls were made and how much money was collected in previous ALS fees that weren’t given to the town. REMS has said there was a verbal agreement from the previous administration for them to keep the funds.
“Instead of having litigation and spending money on lawyers, we will just come to an agreement,” said Del Gallo. “We don’t want to go to litigation … they are a good company.”..........................>>>>................................>>>>..............................http://www.spotlightnews.com/news/view_news.php?news_id=1305818261
TJ has already started the wheels in motion to prevent any litigation on the ALS money so if the TB won't pursue the money complaints must be sent to the state. It's pretty easy to give all the money to the town for ALS calls especially when you're not providing the ALS service anyway, the police paramedics are and they are getting paid from a different pot supported by the town. This is the same type of problem a private business has trying to bid against a government subsidized business, the playing field is not level and the TB knows it.
“Instead of having litigation and spending money on lawyers, we will just come to an agreement,” said Del Gallo. “We don’t want to go to litigation … they are a good company.”
What a joke this man is...FDG must sympathize with REMS because he received the heavy equipment to start his business the same way REMS received the ALS money. Both courtesy of the taxpayer without the taxpayers knowledge.
What a joke this man is...FDG must sympathize with REMS because he received the heavy equipment to start his business the same way REMS received the ALS money. Both courtesy of the taxpayer without the taxpayers knowledge.
Not to mention REMS' equipment while they were stealing ALS money...taxpayers have been funding their equipment, supplies and real estate along the way in the form of bailouts, donations and money stolen from the Town. They saved the building on Cardiff Rd. from foreclosure....the other on Princetown Rd. was given to them....and they pay no taxes on either.
What a joke this man is...FDG must sympathize with REMS because he received the heavy equipment to start his business the same way REMS received the ALS money. Both courtesy of the taxpayer without the taxpayers knowledge.
Are you confirming the practice of when work was completed on a public works job it was left to the contractors or property owners because it was too expensive for the gov't to get rid of???
Talking to each other is better than talking about each other
Are you confirming the practice of when work was completed on a public works job it was left to the contractors or property owners because it was too expensive for the gov't to get rid of???
Yeaaaaaaahh...That's it. Saving the government money. The government buys the equipment at double the cost, and then turns around and has them taken away on flat beds to the brother of one of the public work contractor union bosses. It was a public service.
I've been told by a good source that this massive amount of money supposedly missing isn't nearly as massive as some are making it out to be...
So that would mean a few things........... a. there weren't as many calls as rotterdamians were told b. the als $$$ added to this years rotterdam budget is inflated. c. and is it less of a crime to steal $100K of taxpayer's money as opposed to $250K?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
So that would mean a few things........... a. there weren't as many calls as rotterdamians were told b. the als $$$ added to this years rotterdam budget is inflated. c. and is it less of a crime to steal $100K of taxpayer's money as opposed to $250K?
And perhaps there are too many Paramedics for the same reasons . . . .
So that would mean a few things........... a. there weren't as many calls as rotterdamians were told b. the als $$$ added to this years rotterdam budget is inflated. c. and is it less of a crime to steal $100K of taxpayer's money as opposed to $250K?
...or that REMS is purposely misleading residents now that they know reimbursement is being pursued and don't want to be on the hook for all of the money stolen...the is the first time since the beginning of this scam that such a ridiculously low figure has been even mentioned....if they were held accountable for the actual amount collected it would probably mean the end of their existence.... they have claimed that they don't know how much was collected....then claimed in their non-"presentation" that "it doesn't matter".
Who was the "good source"???? Tony Jasenski??? LOL
The ALS revenue was estimated to be NO LESS than $78,000 per year TEN YEARS AGO...and as much as $129,000... FDG is out of his mind if he thinks that he is the one who should decide what is a 'fair settlement'. It is obvious that he has intentionally ignored all of the disturbing factsabout REMS....along with MM and BG.
this is all assuming all billing was up to par with insurance....fraud can cost mucho bucks...and the government will even make crap up and flip ya over to empty your pockets....I've seen it first hand....Atlas Shrugged and we all fell in.......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Didn't Hamilton mention at a rotterdam town board meeting that the als money was never going back to the taxpayers? If what he said is true, than I'm sure Hamilton has the numbers.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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