The Times Union
ROTTERDAM, N.Y. — Representatives from Mohawk Ambulance Service and Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services(REMS) fielded questions from Town Board members during another contentious gathering to determine who will provide ambulance and paramedic service to this community.
The wide ranging discussion focused on REMS troubled financial history and the $30,000 they may owe the town, response times and service costs plus the fact that Mohawk is a for profit while REMS is not. Some in the partisan overflow crowd at Town Hall Thursday night held aloft signs that read “Save Rotterdam EMS” and “Public Safety not Personal Agendas.”
Richard Brandt, Mohawk’s vice president of operations, said since taking over the emergency calls in Rotterdam on Nov. 19 they have handled 116 calls, several times two or more calls simultaneously. In one case, they were on three calls at once. “We would like to pay taxes and become a part of your community,” he said of the family-owned business that has a fleet of 33 ambulances and more than 250 employees, 16 of whom live in Rotterdam. “Our reputation is our lifeline and it speaks for itself.”
John Nuzback, a REMS Board Member acknowledged the company’s old fiscal problems but stressed its resiliency and that REMS is now in the black and has learned from its mistakes. He also noted REMS has four ambulances and two stations with 23 state-certified paramedics and 21 state-certified emergency medical technicians plus highlighted the many community events the hometown service is involved with.
Nuzback, who also works for Schenectady County, was joined by another REMS Board member, Dean Romano in answering questions. Despite the fact that the gathering was an agenda meeting with no provisions for public comments, Councilman Robert Godlewski made a motion to allow residents to comment, that ultimately passed 3-2.
Residents who then took the microphone overwhelmingly expressed support and urged the board to retain REMS. The governing body will vote on Wednesday on a resolution to award the 5-year contract to either REMS or Mohawk.