HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-03-21-STB-minutesSPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING
EMS (Emergency Medical Services) on the Lakeshore
Town of Ulysses
March 21, 2015
Audio of the minutes are available on the website at ulysses.nv.us.
The meeting was held at the Franziska Racker Center at 3226 Wilkins Road, Ithaca.
PRESENT:
Supervisor- Liz Thomas
1St Deputy Supervisor- Nancy Zahler
Board members- John Hertzler
Clerk- Carissa Parlato
OTHERS PRESENT:
Brian Snyder (Trumansburg EMS), Brian Wilbur and Justin Vann (Tompkins County
Department of Emergency Response), Ben Carver (Village of Trumansburg trustee), Rod
Ferrentino (Deputy Fire Chief), Jason Fulton, (Trumansburg Fire Chief)
CITIZENS PRESENT:
Donald Wilson, Dan Clement, Nicholas Szabo, Frank & Gail Flannery, Rob Covert, Nancy Cool &
Fred Clark, Judy Abrams & Sherman Kelly, Kaile & Mickey Tsapis, Matt Sacco (Cayuga Nature
Center)
NOTICE:
Notice of the meeting was posted on the town's website and clerk's board; mailed to lake shore
residents; and sent to local newspapers.
CALL TO ORDER:
Ms. Thomas called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m.
She noted that the objective of the meeting was to give an overview of the EMS services, listen to
residents' concerns and identify solutions to issues.
Next, Ms. Thomas introduced the board members and presenters and directed the audience to a power
point presentation.
Mr. Snyder discussed the following EMS topics:
- ALS- advanced life support/BLS- basic life support
- staff numbers, experience levels and training (both volunteer and paid)
- services provided and data on calls
- the fire and EMS regional network and when mutual aid occurs
Chief Fulton presented information on fire/EMS equipment.
Mr. Wilbur presented information on:
- 911 and dispatching calls, response times, when mutual aid goes into effect
- CAD (computer aided dispatch), which is used to gather information on incoming calls
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING
March 21, 2015
- response times
- how calls are classified
Mr. Snyder further explained the services offered and presented:
- EMS call data
- response times for Route 89 specifically
- a map depicting call locations over the last 3 years
Ms. Thomas discussed:
- the impacts of the town's new billing policy
o each property owner's share of EMS costs are projected to be reduced by about 33%.
o The financial assistance policy
Mr. Snyder and Mr. Ferrentino discussed accessing steep slope areas.
Chief Fulton noted that there never has been and will never be a policy that disallows EMS staff from
going down steep slopes.
Ms. Zahler summed up the ideas for improving services, such as:
- submitting site specific information about properties with difficult access to the 911 Center to
incorporate into their dispatch computer program that highlights the challenges associated with
each address
- adding a feedback section to the Town's billing cover letter
- looking into the feasibility of Bangs Ambulance being the first responder for properties in the
southernmost part of Ulysses
- educating residents about emergency preparedness
Mr. Carver added that:
- a quality service is the Village's goal- there is no profit motive since municipalities cannot
profit from the services
- feedback from residents is important
Ms. Thomas opened the meeting to questions. Several residents spoke and were responded to by EMS
officials.
Ms. Thomas concluded by inviting folks to check out the fire and emergency vehicles in the parking on
their way out.
Mr. Hertzler inquired about new technology that could improve the system.
ADJOURN:
The meeting was adjourned at 11 am.
Respectfully submitted by Carissa Parlato on 3/27/15.
OA