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185.2013 Amendment To WGF EMS Squad Pay Rates RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT TO EMERGENCY PROTECTION SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN TOWN OF QUEENSBURY AND WEST GLENS FALLS EMERGENCY SQUAD, INC. REGARDING CERTAIN ISSUES INCLUDING INCREASE OF AGENCY PAY RATES AND STAFFING RESOLUTION NO.: 185,2013 INTRODUCED BY: Mr.John Strough WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr.Tim Brewer WHEREAS, in accordance with Town Law §184, the Queensbury Town Board (Town) may contract with ambulance services certified or registered in accordance with Public Health Law Article 30 for general emergency ambulance service within the Town, and WHEREAS, the Town has encountered increased emergency calls, particularly from senior housing, and WHEREAS, the Town Board has determined that there is a need for increased staff coverage and pay to provide greater coverage for the safety of Town residents, and WHEREAS, the Town Board has determined that increased pay is necessary to retain and maintain qualified paid staff, and WHEREAS, the Town has entered into an Agreement for emergency protection services with the West Glens Falls Emergency Squad,Inc., (Squad)for 2012 through 2014, and WHEREAS, the Town and Squad have negotiated and agreed upon terms to amend such Agreement concerning the following issues so that the Town can provide better coverage to Town residents: I. Increase pay rates for all Town of Queensbury Emergency/Rescue Squads from $13.25 to $14.50 hourly for staffers with Basic Life Support (BLS) training; and $16.50 to $17.50 hourly for staffers with Advanced Life Support(ALS)training; 2. The Squad will receive additional funding for paid staffing to add one (1) ALS/1BLS crew to its staffing and agrees to position that crew in the North Queensbury Rescue Squad, Inc.'s building from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year, such crew then to be positioned as needed for the rest of each year (all paid staffing moneys will be removed from future agreements with North Queensbury Rescue Squad, Inc.); 3. Paid staffing will be 12 hours a day/7 days a week, with exact hours to be determined by the Squad; 4. The Squad will remind its paid staff and volunteers that all patients must be billed and the Town will not tolerate EMS Staff and/or patients making statements regarding ignorance of such bills. Patients unable to pay due to limited income may contact the billing company for a hardship application; and WHEREAS, since such expenses for the increase in pay rates and/or additional staffing are not presently included in the Squad's 2012-2014 Agreement with the Town, the Town Board duly held a public hearing on Monday, April 15th, 2013 concerning such additional services and expenses and coinciding amendment to the Squad's Agreement, and heard all interested persons, and WHEREAS, the Town Board has determined that such additional services will benefit Town residents and visitors to the Squad's service areas and therefore it is necessary and in the public interest to act on such proposal to improve the provision of emergency services to the Town, NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby approves of the Amendment to the Agreement between the Town of Queensbury and the West Glens Falls Emergency Squad, Inc., regarding the increase in pay rates and additional staffing to the Town referred to in the preambles of this Agreement, without actually replacing the entire Primary Agreement,which will result in additional Town funding to the Squad of$126,366 for 2013 and $199,670 for 2014 so Town funding to the Squad will therefore be $311,366 for 2013 and $384,670 for 2014 and authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor to sign such Agreement substantially in the form presented at this meeting, and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby authorizes and directs the Town Budget Officer to transfer funds, amend the Town Budget and take all actions necessary to provide for payment relating to such Agreement, and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Town Board further authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor and/or Budget Officer to take any action necessary to effectuate all terms of this Resolution. Duly adopted this 15th day of April, 2013 by the following vote: AYES : Mr. Montesi,Mr. Metivier,Mr. Clements,Mr. Strough,Mr. Brewer NOES : None ABSENT: None