An Order Creating an
Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee
- Purpose and Intent
The purpose of this order is to establish an Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee (the Committee) to advise and make recommendations to the Board of Selectman (the Board) on matters related to the current status of the Town’s EMS services. The Committee shall report to the Board of Selectmen matters outlined below and upon request by the Board of Selectmen.
- Term
This ad hoc Committee is authorized for a term concluding on December 31, 2023, to be extended for additional terms at the discretion of the Board of Selectmen. It is recommended that the Committee make an initial report to the Board by August 1, 2023 in anticipation of a possible article on the 2024 Town Meeting warrant.
- Authority
This order is adopted pursuant to the authority of the Board of Selectmen to adopt policies and issue directives to make and order its prudential affairs.
- Composition & Term
The Committee shall consist of five (5) regular members who shall citizens of Swanzey and/or employees of the Town. There may also and up to two (2) alternate members to be seated by the chair in the absence of regular members. On this committee there will be:
- 1 Fire Department Member
- 3 Swanzey Residents
- 1 Town Administrator Designee
Members shall be appointed to the Board of Selectmen and shall serve for the term of the Committee, unless extended.
- Officers
The Board of Selectmen shall designate a member of the Committee to serve as Chair. The Chair shall preside at meetings, and act as spokesman for the Committee when so authorized. The Town Administrator Designee shall act as Chair in the absence of the Chair and be responsible for preparing meeting agendas, ensuring meetings are properly posted, and the committees proceedings are recorded in minutes.
- Background
The Town of Swanzey currently is under contract with DiLuzio Ambulance through June 30, 2024 for primary ambulance services. The City of Keene and DiLuzio Ambulance have a mutual agreement to back up each other’s client communities, including the Town of Swanzey. In 2020, the Town of Swanzey purchased a used ambulance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic using federal CARES Act funds to provide an additional transport capability. The Town of Swanzey does not currently bill customers who are transported in the Town ambulance. In November of 2022 Cheshire County began operating Cheshire EMS, an ambulance department of the County, with a new facility in Swanzey.
- Powers and Duties
The Committee is charged with researching, advising and making recommendations to the Board of Selectmen regarding the future of EMS Services in the community by performing multiple cost benefit analyses. These options include:
- Swanzey providing primary ambulance service;
- Contracting with Cheshire EMS for back up or primary coverage;
- Discontinuing municipal EMS service;
- Maintaining the status quo, either with or without a Town ambulance and with or without billing customers.
The cost benefit analyses will include:
- Review capital costs over a six-year timeframe;
- Estimate potential revenue and expenses of each service;
- Review, compare, and contrast the response rate and estimated response times of each option;
- Evaluate, compare, and contrast the level of services provided to residents and compare them to each other
The Committee shall present these findings to the Board of Selectmen and may be asked to prepare an implementation plan.
The Committee shall comply with RSA 91-A the Right to Know Law. Meetings shall be properly noticed and minutes and other records shall be maintained by the Committee and/or designated Town staff members.
- Effective Date
This Order is effective upon adoption and supersedes all previous orders or policies relative to or in conflict with this matter and the procedures described herein.
Approved on December 12th, 2022
Members
Steven Bittel, Chair
Bryan Rudgers
Linda Glasschroeder
Scott Self
Judith Bohannon
Tyke Frazier
Rachel Elkins, Alternate
