By Michael J. DeCicco
South Coast Today
MARION, Mass. — Selectmen have approved a merger of the town’s Fire and Emergency Medical Services departments effective Sunday in a move aimed at boosting efficiency and cutting costs.
Tuesday night’s vote followed the recommendation of Fire Chief Thomas Joyce, who selectmen appointed interim Emergency Medical Services director a year ago this month.
Joyce said that appointment allowed him to unite both agencies under a single “CEO.” The result, he said, has been enhanced response times with deployment of a single medical emergency ambulance, reduced staffing costs with an EMS duty squad providing shift coverage over a 24-hour period, improved interdepartmental communications and the improved efficiency that comes from shared equipment, supplies, training and switching EMS to the Fire Department radio frequency.
Full Story: Marion EMS and Fire Department to merge