| Author | Message | ||
     Steve Morris Citizen Username: Srm Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2005 |
EMS services to Maplewood are presently divided between the Fire Department (first responder to 911 calls between 6 am and 7 pm) and the all-volunteer Maplewood First Aid Squad (which covers the over-night). The budget pending before the Town Council calls for the decommissioning of the MFAS, and turning over all EMS duties to the Fire Department. The rationale is that the Fire Department charges for its emergency services -- roughly $300, plus a mileage fee. The "Volies," of course, do not charge. Folks, it's a false economy! The Fire Department stands to add, in a busy year, between 300 and 400 calls by taking on the over-night shift. Most of its bills for emergency services get turned over to insurance companies, which either don't pay, or pay pennies on the dollar. The Department will eventually have to hire new personnel to cover the extra hours. Has the Town Council crunched the numbers yet to analyze what the windfall is likely to be under these constraints? Assuming at least one new hire, and a 30% yield on billings, it doesn't come out to much. On the other side of the ledger, the MFAS has been giving exemplary and thoroughly professional service to this community for almost 40 years. In exchange for a modest subsidy from the Town to cover liability insurance on its two ambulances, the MFAS not only provides billing-free EMS services. It also acts as a unique forum where experience and skill are shared among generations, careers in emergency medicine are incubated, and the spirit of volunteer service is kept alive. The proposal to decommission MFAS is classic penny-wise, pound-foolish budgeting. It would also be a real loss to Maplewood. Urge the Town Council to reject decommissioning and save the Volies! | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 3706 Registered: 9-2001  |
"It also acts as a unique forum where experience and skill are shared among generations, careers in emergency medicine are incubated, and the spirit of volunteer service is kept alive." Very well said Steve, actually it should give us all some food for thought!!! If this happens, what will happen to all of you; and why not at least allow all the EMS volunteers to work out of our two Fire Departments? Please give us more information if you can... | ||
| Steve Morris Citizen Username: Srm Post Number: 2 Registered: 4-2005 |
AJC, Thanks for your interest! In reply, most of the the MFAS volunteers would probably end up with other local volunteer squads. Although the Fire Department does maintain an auxiliary, my understanding is that the auxiliary is not for EMS functions (and is not likely to become so, in the event that MFAS is decommissioned). | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 3707 Registered: 9-2001 |
"The Department will eventually have to hire new personnel to cover the extra hours." That's not very encouraging! If the Fire Department maintains an auxiliary, I would think they could always use more support from the EMS volunteers. It would be a shame to lose these people to other volunteer squads. FWIW, I suggest that your organization attend the next TC meeting to make a public presentation explaining your position on this important issue. Have you considered having members of the squad distribute information and also do a little fundraising in front of the post office in the village and/or on SA? Please let us know more information so anyone else inclined to support this worthy cause can also lend their support. Good luck... Art | ||
| Steve Morris Citizen Username: Srm Post Number: 3 Registered: 4-2005 |
Art, Thanks very much for the support, and for the good advice. We will be making ourselves more visible in the coming weeks (a problem in the past, since ordinarily we only come out at night!), and will certainly be at the next TC meeting, in force. Steve | ||
| Soda Supporter Username: Soda Post Number: 2910 Registered: 5-2001  |
This should NOT be allowed to happen. If South Orange can keep its Rescue Squad going with a minimum of municipal funding, certainly the Maplewood FAS should be able to find effective ways to involve the public in its support. SORS has held golf tourneys, classic car shows, and other fundraising activities (and still runs lean financially), and has active support from Cryan's and other local businesses. MFAS should begin an aggressive campaign of public awareness and direct solicitation for financial help from the community it serves. -s. BTW: Do you guys talk with your S.O. counterparts? If not, maybe you should! | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 5375 Registered: 5-2001 |
Steve: Is the First Aid Squad being eliminated entirely or is it being merged with the EMS function at the Fire Department? There is a lot to be said for having a co-ordinated effort whereby the two EMS services share equipment, supplies, training, and expertiise, especailly if the town would now be providing a greater share of the funding for the First Aid Squad but eliminating the First Aid Squad entirely makes absolutely no sense. This issue needs to be brought to the Soap Box so more people can become aware of what is happening. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 3708 Registered: 9-2001 |
"Do you guys talk with your S.O. counterparts? If not, maybe you should!" Great idea Soda. There's strength in numbers... Listen, who knows if this is good news or bad news? I'm now wondering where the South Orange RS is located, and if it makes any sense to somehow join forces. We know both towns are trying to combine some of our services anyway. BTW, if ever the Maplewood RS headquarters became available, it would make an interesting place for another small community center for that side of town. (Kids, Adults, and/or Seniors.) | ||
| Steve Morris Citizen Username: Srm Post Number: 4 Registered: 4-2005 |
S, Thanks for the input. To be sure, we are in touch with SO, and we could definitely be more visible. But just to be clear, the problem prompting the decommissioning proposal is not that we're running in the red, or costing too much. MFAS wouldn't turn away more funding, but it gets by, and certainly runs lean. Sponsors of the proposal are apparently more interested in the prospect of generating revenue by billing for all 911 runs (not just the daytime runs). And our primary response to that is simply that it's not going to generate much revenue, especially once the cost of new FD personnel is factored in. | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 5376 Registered: 5-2001 |
Steve: Could you please answer my question? | ||
| Steve Morris Citizen Username: Srm Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2005 |
Joan, The proposal as I understand it is to eliminate the volunteer squad entirely and turn over the entire EMS function to the Fire Department. Steve | ||
| Soda Supporter Username: Soda Post Number: 2913 Registered: 5-2001 |
Art: It's on Third Street. Check out the website: http://www.southorangerescue.org/ -s. BTW: No merger, thank you. | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2061 Registered: 5-2001 |
If the issue is the billings, why don't they just bill for the MFAS runs rather than getting rid of them? There is probably a good reason why not, but I don't get it. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 3709 Registered: 9-2001 |
Joan, do you recall this matter coming up at any of our CBA committee meetings on the budget this winter? | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 3710 Registered: 9-2001 |
"The South Orange Rescue Squad needs you! How can you help? You can volunteer some of your valuable time and/or donations. For more information please contact us and see how you can help your fellow village residents in their greatest time of need. Thanks for the link Soda, I support the idea that Maplewood keeps there own Rescue Squad, but I wonder why you wouldn't favor a merger, especially as it appears that the SORS seems to be looking for more volunteers? | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 5377 Registered: 5-2001 |
I recall this issue being mentioned in an e-mail our committee received several weeks ago which listed three proposed cost saving measures for the preliminary budget (the reduction in the library budget being discussed in another thread was another). However, it sounded more like a merger of the two EMS units than a total abolishing of the 1st Aid Squad. Thus my question to Steve. | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 5378 Registered: 5-2001 |
Steve: If the First Aid Squad would be willing to consider a merger, this might be a good tack to take in discussions with the TC. It would also help the cause to point out that volunteer EMS staff costs the town a lot less than paid fire fighters do and to suggest that someone conduct a cost benefit analysis to determine whether the increase in staff salaries would be greater than any additional fees the town could collect for ambulance services. Another argument which should be presented to the TC is that fire fighting services presently take precidence over EMS activities. When the crew has to report to a fire, EMS services by the town may not be available at all. We need to work towards increasing our volunteer EMS force not eliminating it, if we are to keep our high level of EMS service and keep budget costs (and taxes) in check. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 886 Registered: 1-2004  |
I think it's a very bad idea to disban the squad, I agree with sac, and was about to ost the same suggestion. Why not have the squad stay as it is a bill people? Those who have insurance can submit it to their insurance company, those who don't have insurance won't be obligated to pay. It seems that's how it would be with the fire dept anyway. Then again, if people know they might be billed, those without insurance might be reluctant to call when they really need it. | ||
| ken (the other one) Citizen Username: Ken Post Number: 245 Registered: 5-2001  |
Volunteer squads cannot bill for the EMS runs, only paid EMS, like the FD. | ||
| Steve Morris Citizen Username: Srm Post Number: 6 Registered: 4-2005 |
I think MFAS is open in principle to some sort of merger, but my impression is that there's little enthusiasm for this idea in the Fire Department. Still, I suppose that the TC could preside over a shot-gun marriage. But a cost analysis seems an excellent first step. MFAS certainly hasn't done it, and I'm not aware that the TC has either. |
