By Jerry Lynott
The Times-Leader
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Unified support to maintain the backup ambulance agreement in the city didn’t persuade Mayor Tony George to scrap his unilateral change to the nearly five-year-old mutual-aid arrangement.
He dismissed the city council’s non-binding resolution and pleas from the public Monday night to keep the status quo.
George, who did not attend council’s combined work session and public meeting, said he was going ahead with his plan to put Forty-Fort-based Trans-Med Ambulance Inc. at the top of the list to respond to calls when the city’s two ambulances were unavailable.
The for-profit company’s president, Homer Berlew, said Trans-Med will dedicate two ambulances to respond to calls within the city limits. George viewed that as a plus, saying there will be four ambulances to respond to emergency calls.
“I think it’s a better system for the city,” George said.
The change to take place on April 15 replaces a plan in place since October 2011 involving Kingston Fire Department, Hanover Township Community Ambulance Association, Plains Township Ambulance and Trans-Med. Each was assigned geographic coverage areas. Trans-Med, which had roughly two-thirds of the city, will assume total coverage and the others will serve as backup. The ambulance services have their own fees and seek reimbursement from insurance companies.
The mayor acknowledged Trans-Med would have a test period and, based on that, he would decide whether to make it permanent.
“It’s temporary. If it doesn’t work out, we can change it,” he said.
But council and the people who spoke out Monday night said the agreement has been effective and didn’t need to be changed.
“I don’t see what the problem is,” said Bob Kadluboski, a frequent speaker at council meetings.
Frank Sorick, who ran as the Republican candidate against George, criticized the switch.
“Certainly we want the same level of protection we’re getting now,” Sorick said.
Tony Brooks said that in his brief time on council “this has probably been the most contentious and most communicative issue that I’ve ever seen to date.”
He added that he was saddened that the agreement was going the way of the municipal cooperation commission that Luzerne County Council let expire this month.
“I think it’s always in the best interest that we work together with our municipalities to find ways that we can better service the citizens,” Brooks said.
Council Chairman Bill Barrett, who introduced the resolution to keep the agreement in place, recalled when the Plains Township ambulance responded to a call for his father-in-law, who collapsed in Barrett’s driveway.
“It works and I don’t see any reason for us to do anything to that,” Barrett said.
Still, he questioned what was behind the reason for the change. Council was not asked for input on the professional service that falls under administrative function of the mayor, Barrett said.
“My biggest concern, and I’ll be very candid, is that I have concerns about where this actually is going to go,” Barrett said.
The city is not out to make a profit on the ambulance service, and the revenue it generates from insurance fees covers the cost of the paramedics, Barrett said.
“The revenue almost equals the expenditure there, but you shouldn’t really be putting a price on public safety,” he said.
Berlew addressed council, telling it the mayor asked Trans-Med to submit a proposal “to enhance the ambulance service in the city of Wilkes-Barre.”
He said there were no discussions beyond that. “At no time did Trans-Med propose the removal of the current mutual aid,” Berlew said.
In addition to the two dedicated ambulances, there will be second-year medical students from the Wright Center and The Commonwealth Medical College riding along with Trans-Med employees, Berlew said.
Berlew said there is no contract in place for the service.
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