3/11/08
Met at 4 pm…originally to go for 2 hours…ending at 6:15.pm ……(went beyond)
Discussion about whether the residents could speak at the meeting…some early comments from the incumbent commissioners…saying it was inappropriate…not correct according to the Sunshine Rules Book…..ongoing discussion seemed to be headed towards no public input until Commissioner Dodd came forth to say he would like to hear from the public in limited numbers of comments…..Mayor Minnet checked with the Town Attorney said it was up to the discretion of the Commission …a turn around…passing 5- 0 to allow speaking from those in the hall.
AMR up first …brought a table full of representatives… brought a booklet for all…and a power point/video presentation.
The #’s …24 thousand employees nationwide…3.4 million transports…..38 states….4000 vehicles…181 thousand paramedics/EMS/ nurses.. 60 thousand transported every week…..17 years of field experience for those who would be hired to man the service to LBTS…..
Important info…. serving Broward since 1972….911 medical response..Medical Director is Florida State Director of Bureau EMS…air ambulance…EMS education- largest national technical instruction training….
Advanced life support medical transport….neonatal and pediatric transport….bariatric patient transport…events standby services…
Managing Communications center and dispatch services….largest in nation 911 dispatch…disaster response….largest single response to Katrina…
Showed a video of Katrina and their presence there.
The questions from the dais… collective questions and answers below
AMR vs BSO on state qualifications….. they are equal
Response time…. 6 minutes or less….
Locations they will be stationed at… In town 1 truck with 2 paramedics/1 EMS…. at Holy Cross…and at Commercial and Powerline
cost roughly 670 thousand ..
Will work to familiarize themselves with the town’s geography….
24/7 manning the center…12 on at call center peak hours…4 off peak hours…with Supervisor and alternate supervisor on duty….
Trucks all have state mandated equipment…fully stocked…checked each shift …subject to surprise inspections from state….
Have the Fema contract…
will rotate the rig each year with either new one or one with low miles….not a sole provider for anyone in Broward County… throughout pal Beach county…..Not asked to leave service from any previous town they served ….at no time did they leave town for non- emergency ….
Backups will have 1 paramedic…1 EMT…will provide 1 firefighter if required ,with no training from AMR….can hold the bridge…do have sirens…
Only supplied 1 RFP to the town….had discussions with all on the dais except Commissioner Silverstone…including the Town Manager.
Have emergency medical drills…continual education yearly…internal 150 hours/ field 100 hours…state certified training….turn over 21%….
not in competition with BSO….unions will lose potential source of income….Hold Harmless to town standard contract language
General Manager…”Won’t miss a beat a service” with changeover from BSO.
ALERT: Major ruffled feathers when the Mayor accused the staff and AMR of having more than 1 RFP!
Town Manager took issue with this accusation…asked for written response from the Mayor on this… will be more to come on this huge mistake on the Mayor’s part…who is advising the Mayor? She seems to be working off written notes.
Town Manager went on to compare both presenters…and found all to be equal except the cost.
“A Honda is a Honda!” she exclaimed.
Presentation approximately 1 1/2 hours.
BSO ….Smaller representation…less power point…hard to read #’s …which we have been asking for …for a long time now to no avail.
Largest EMS in Broward County…air and sea transportation…later acknowledged it is available to all municipalities throughout the state with or without their EMS service….
600 employees….527 licensed paramedics…1973 began in Plantation…union …2 licensed paramedics on each truck…north end provider since the 1970’s…11.6 years experience for crew who would man trucks…are firefighter also…16 full time units…6 minute or less response time…. state required equipment+ including autopulse…(discussion of its necessity with both)..
Medical Director local resident…
touted agreement with Pomapno…later had to acknowledge it was for fire service…
2-3 person EMS 1.9 million/fire and EMs 1.3 million…but later had to acknowledge a requirement from BSO if only providing EMS…2 trucks manned…total…3.8 million!
Collective questions…answers from the dais…
helicopters would be available no matter who our EMS is…
problems about combo role of firefighter/EMS….Chief says they are a “natural blend”…..turn over rate of employees is nil…
Former Vice Mayor Yanni came forward after requested to repeat a conversation he and the Mayor..Minnet… had with Sherif Lamberti over a supposed 1 million dollar rebate to the town from transport fees…much discussion about the numbers…very confusing and no definite amount was reached.
Town Manager …
water rescues…last year…3 or 4….helicopter non- water…0….will probably use CAT system for 911….
series of position questions…vacant communications…15/vacant fire division 83 / “frozen ” unknown…
what the cost would be to taxpayers…discussion about level of care…at what cost….
Time ran out…workshop to continue with public input at 5 pm on March 25…before Commission meeting
Adjourned…for 15 minute break before starting Commission meeting,
Tags: LBTS Agendas/Meetings
