By Kimberly Wetzel
The Chronicle
COVENTRY, Conn. — The town was supposed to take over local emergency medical technician and ambulance services starting today.
However, plans have been held up due to a delay at the state level and it is not known when the takeover will actually happen.
Town and Coventry Volunteer Fire Association officials are working on developing the pact through the state Department of Public Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services.
While there are two volunteer fire departments in town — the CVFA and the North Coventry Volunteer Fire Department — there is only one ambulance service, which is currently run by the CVFA.
“The Town of Coventry has submitted to OEMS a Need for Service Application,” said Maura Downes, the director of communications for DPH. “OEMS has spoken to the town about documentation that is still needed in order to complete the town’s application.
“Once the application has been deemed complete, it will be forwarded to OEMS’ Hearing Office to schedule an evidentiary hearing.”
However, CVFA Deputy Chief Sean Brierley said he believed the application was completed in its entirety and submitted it before April 1 — a date that was imperative in order to hit the July 1 deadline.
The town takeover is being done to help with a lack of volunteer emergency medical technicians — especially during the daytime hours.
As a result, Coventry started looking into entering into a service contract that would be more than just a temporary fix and those hired would work alongside the volunteers.
“It’s disheartening that it’s not happening by July 1 ( as originally planned), but we’ll get to it,” said Coventry Town Manager John Elsesser.
He said this is a very “cordial transfer of the license with agreement on both parties” and the Coventry Volunteer Fire Association will “continue to be a part of the ambulance services” and now it’s unknown when exactly the town will step in.
Brierley said the change would essentially be an “administrative transfer.”
He said, besides lack of volunteers, there’s also “more weight on our shoulders, takes more dedication and time then the traditional volunteer fire service.”
While Brierley said the state has been “very unhelpful” in making the transfer happen, he said “the town and CVFA are working hard” and it’s
unlikely that “ our townspeople and patients will notice” when it does take place.
Elsesser said CVFA volunteers will still be an integral part with volunteers expected to continue with coverage for nights and weekends.
He said most of the calls will still be taken on by volunteers rather than temporary staffing.
However, he said there’s a critical need to help supplement what the town already has and therefore the town’s paramedic needs will soon be met with a mixture of town- hired contractor employees and town volunteers.
Noel Waite, who is the town’s fire marshal and emergency management director, said the current delay will not impact services.
“It’s not a big deal,” he said. “ Things will continue to run smoothly.”
He said there are currently a total of around 20 EMTs. However, since they volunteer most work day-shift hours, it leaves only a few to help out during the day and services are needed 24/7.
With so few volunteers during the day, this can cause issues with coverage.
“Every town in the area has lack of coverage during the day,” Waite said.
Elsesser said the town and the state are not in agreement regarding the situation and there is a possibility this issue may need to go to a public hearing.
Elsesser said the town council’s July 5 meeting has been canceled, so any discussion on the matter may have to wait until the next slated meeting Monday, July 18, at 7: 30 p. m. in the town hall annex.
Copyright 2016 The Chronicle