Let me ask this way. If i pick up the phone right now and dial 911 because of crushing chest pain what is the protocol in rotterdam/schenectady.
Police or fire department paramedics respond first? If not available send call to Mohawk or REMS?
You're talking about two different areas. Rotterdam and Schenectady have completely different protocols.
REMS would come out - RPD would come out (Paramedic) ... there's only two, I believe, paramedics that are certified for ALS, unknown when they're "on duty" with the RPD
In Schenectady, Fire & Mohawk. Fire handles ALS, Mohawk handles both transport and ALS (per the contract).
Here's the problem, nobody is putting the correct facts forward. This debate is about providing basic life support services, whether it is REMS or Mohawk. IMO, it boils down to cost. Because IF Mohawk has offered jobs to all REMS employees, then those volunteer firefighters in our community would still be able to serve is on both the paid ems and volunteer firefighter capacity.
No matter which side you support, become informed.
Just curious, but back in June 2007 (second post to this thread), you were all over keeping Mohawk out, now you've flopped, just wondering what your rationale is and what changed it! I have heard that all the salary comes out of the insurance billing, but I haven't heard about health care benefits, pension, eye care, dental, etc. Does anyone know if these benefits are on the table and where they would be funded from?
You are correct. I did support the idea of a local service as opposed to a private service. In theory it sounded sensible. But as I obtained more information and examined the financial and level of service provided, it seemed to make more sense to support a private entity.
I also was not aware to the extent of the financial problems that plagued rems. As this information became more accessible, I made the decision to support a private entity that was already established and one that would not be an additional cost to the taxpayers and would offer Advanced Life Support as opposed to Basic Life Support aka transport service.
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
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
Re May 2 letter, “Rotterdam voters should keep REMS”: There is a very important vote June 29 at Rotterdam Town Hall. It is a proposal that would involve one of the biggest expansions of government in the history of the town by establishing a new ambulance-taxing district. It will increase your taxes. It will swell the number of unionized government employees in town. It will increase the legacy costs for these employees and their retirement plans. And it will establish a government-run ambulance service at a time when we should be looking to reduce the size of government. What’s worse is that it will institutionalize the fiscal problems and remove any pressure for reform at the Rotterdam Emergency Medical Service (REMS). How did we get here? About a year ago, the Tommasone administration wanted the town board to unilaterally impose a new taxing district to support REMS. But pressure was brought to bear by the No New Tax Party and concerned residents and the board finally gave its blessing to a public vote. The REMS is a private company that wants your permission to become a public company, whose survival will depend on taking money from you in the form of taxation. Currently REMS operates at a deficit. Its business model is so flawed that an agreement had to be hammered out so that the IRS could get the estimated $250,000 it is owed. In December 2009, REMS received $120,000 from the town. That makes a total of a quarter-million dollars given them in the last two years! A yes vote ensures more spending, with no accountability from our elected leaders and no solution in sight. We cannot and should not institutionalize a failed business model. I encourage all town residents to vote no June 29. Vote against bigger government. REMS needs more time to prove its viability. It still has a chance to serve the town, but it has to prove it can be self-sufficient. A taxing authority is not the answer. Make it clear that you’re on the side of smaller government.
BRIAN MCGARRY Rotterdam The writer was an unsuccessful candidate for Rotterdam supervisor last year.
Congratulations Brian on a well presented argument. Your opposition to the creation of a new tax authority and desire for smaller, less costly, and less intrusive govenment is a testament to your conservative ideals. It is clear that you are willing to stand before your community and be truthful about your values, your beliefs, and your intentions should you be elected to office.
The professional employees of REMS provide a valuable service to the community. That should not, however, entitle them to guaranteed funding, government employment, union benefits, or guaranteed job security that the creation of a dedicated tax district would promote. If there exist private sector solutions, they should be allowed to compete for the business of the municipality.
A RFP should be written by the Rotterdam Town Board for emergency medical services and ambulatory transport. The requirements and service level agreements should be defined by a group of non-partisan individuals. Private companies and organizations like REMS should be allowed to bid for the contract. And the selection of the company to be awarded the contract should be made without consideration of friendships, votes, political affiliation or campaign contributions, but rather on which provider will best serve the residents of Rotterdam at the lowest cost.
Excellent article! If this passes, than rotterdam residents are clearly lacking in more common sense than I imagined.
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
Excellent article! If this passes, than rotterdam residents are clearly lacking in more common sense than I imagined.
I don't think common sense is the problem...the problem is the lack of information that would allow eligible voters to make more informed decisions. Since this started several years ago, every administration has failed to inform the public of these options...and IMO, they have done so purposely...precisely because common sense would prevail and defeat the measure.
Problem is anything you get wrapped up in loses credibility. Let the elected Town Leaders make the policy not has been coup directors like you and GP.
Unfortunately I know you are serious about this and not kidding! There is an elected Town Board, but no leaders. No taxpayer is that stupid that they will pay a Special District Tax for ambulance service when their health insurance already covers it. Who would pay twice for the same service. Oh that's right, it's not the same service: REMS - Basic Life Support (taxi!), or Mohawk - Advanced Life Support (no tax district).
Problem is anything you get wrapped up in loses credibility. Let the elected Town Leaders make the policy not has been coup directors like you and GP.
If it were up to town "leaders", this unnecessary tax would have been forced upon taxpayers through that convenient little gadget known as a permissive referendum...some of those same "leaders" opposed this tax in the last Democrat administration, but suddenly had a change of heart when it became a condition of political support. If not for the groundswell of opposition to the tax prior to that planned permissive referendum, the tax would have been imposed before the last election...and Tommasone conveniently used this well timed opposition as his way out of a deal with the interested parties, as Primary Election results made it clear that they did honor their side of the deal.
If you want to check my credibility on this issue Diane, look no further than the beginning of this thread...I believe it was a few pages or so into the discussion when I first read it and posted on it...when members who now oppose this tax favored that option. You'll note that the discussion soon takes a sharp turn after I provided members with more information...the same information your "leaders" are now withholding from the public. If the response on this board is any indication, I suspect the same would happen with the public at large. Again, this is why your "leaders" will not disseminate this information and schedule their "vote" at a time when turnout is likely to be minimal, favoring the interested parties in what amounts to a fixed "vote". John Paolino, the only Democrat ever to support the private option, understood all of this and, I suspect, it is the reason he was the only elected leader who made any effort to explore the options. It was in fact his exploratory efforts that led to the private proposals still offered today.
If you had an honest fiber left in you Diane, you'd also remember I was there when this recurring nightmare began...I said the same things then...and you know it because you were there also...too bad you didn't share Paolino's more thorough understanding of this issue and his sense of fiscal responsibility.
At one time I was a die hard supporter of REMS. That was until I heard the whole story. When the information came out about their mismanagement of their finances and their lack of responsibility to pay their taxes. The idea our government officials made 'we the taxpayers' bail them out for their missed steps just added insult to injury.
People do not need to pay with their taxes for a BLS ambulance service when, like AVON said, their health insurance already will pay for an ALS service.
Mohawk has already said that it will buy the building and employ those who are presently with REMS ..... AND it will not cost the taxpayers a dime! It is a win win situation that only the blatantly stupid would not support.
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
At one time I was a die hard supporter of REMS. That was until I heard the whole story. When the information came out about their mismanagement of their finances and their lack of responsibility to pay their taxes. The idea our government officials made 'we the taxpayers' bail them out for their missed steps just added insult to injury.
People do not need to pay with their taxes for a BLS ambulance service when, like AVON said, their health insurance already will pay for an ALS service.
Mohawk has already said that it will buy the building and employ those who are presently with REMS ..... AND it will not cost the taxpayers a dime! It is a win win situation that only the blatantly stupid would not support.
And, an added benefit, it would put that property back on the tax rolls
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