By Philip Jankowski and Samantha Matsumoto
Austin American-Statesman
AUSTIN, Texas — More research is needed before a merger between the Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Service can be proposed, representatives of both agencies told the City Council on Monday during a meeting of the city’s Public Safety Committee.
The committee opened a discussion on the issue with the purpose of gauging public interest before any policy is proposed, said its chairman, Council Member Don Zimmerman.
Before the council meeting even began, Council Member Leslie Pool suggested tabling the discussion. Pool wrote on a public message board Monday that the discussion appeared to have caught EMS and fire department heads by surprise, citing a newsletter from EMS Chief Ernesto Rodriguez.
Rodriguez on Friday sent out a memo to EMS staff calling attention to the merger discussion.
“Both the EMS and Fire Departments were surprised to see this agenda item,” Rodriguez wrote. “Neither department was consulted on the matter. Neither department has been studying a merger and neither has any staff briefing to deliver on the topic.”
During the committee meeting, Zimmerman clarified that no action was meant to be taken on the merger and that the purpose of the discussion was to gather community input.
“We want to hear from people early on,” Zimmerman said.
AFD and EMS representatives said they were open to a merger if the council puts more research into a proposal.
Austin Firefighters Association President Bob Nicks suggested the council organize a study analyzing what has and has not worked with mergers in other cities.
“The No. 1 thing is we need to do this thoughtfully. We don’t need to be forced,” Nicks told the committee. “Reducing costs should not be the primary driver.”
EMS Employee Association President Tony Marquardt urged council members to focus on issues impacting EMS — such as filling the vacant position for a medical director — before considering a merger. When asked by Zimmerman whether he would support a merger if it had more research and time put into it, Marquardt replied, “Absolutely.”
“The homework and work behind it needs to be done,” Marquardt said.
Pool suggested that 2016 was too soon for the merger to be proposed; other council members agreed that more research is needed.
“I think each department has some core issues that need to be concentrated on,” Council Member Ora Houston said.
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©2015 Austin American-Statesman, Texas