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Maybe it’s synchronicity.
At the Wednesday night meeting of the Warren County Intergovernmental Co-op, Chairman Paul Pascuzzi announced during his monthly emergency services report that the county multi-municipal emergency medical service commission is looking into the possibility of converting into an authority.
At the same time, Legislative Subcommittee Chairman Troy Clawson recommended the COG pen a letter of support for a piece of legislation officially allowing the formation of public safety authorities to support multi-municipal EMS work and granting them powers to raise funds.
The COG agreed to ask long-time consultant Alan Kugler to provide help in drafting such a letter of support for it to consider.
The legislation, Senate Bill 501, would allow the formation of county-wide authorities dedicated to supporting joint EMS efforts between multiple municipalities. That was the goal of the commission currently operating in Warren County to begin with.
Although there currently are EMS authorities in the commonwealth, they operate in a gray area, as the state doesn’t officially authorize EMS as something authorities can be created to oversee. Currently, the state’s Municipal Authorities Act allows creation of authorities for a number of things, including swimming pools, sewer service and water service. Under the bill, existing authorities would be wrapped into the new law with all the powers and official recognition that entails.
According to Pascuzzi, the commission is looking at the transformation in regards to how it might affect the structure of the group and whether it could help it to better serve current and evolving needs in the county.
“It’s something we need to explore,” he said.
Regarding other EMS commission business, Pascuzzi announced the group is adding a ninth member and will be starting its 2024 budget soon.
He also gave an update regarding an upcoming emergency medical technician course through Northern Pennsylvania Regional College which the commission has agreed to cover student expenses for. At present, the group is waiting while the college works out final details at its end. The program is planned to run from January through May or June and take approximately six months with state-required EMT certification tests being taken at the end.
OTHER BUSINESS
The COG voted to remove lines for signatures from a letter opposing House Bill 106, which would implement new regulations on nurse-to-patient ratios at hospital, and send the letter with the signatures it has. Representatives of 19 of the county’s 23 municipalities signed the letter.
County Director of Emergency Management Services and Public Safety Ken McCorrison said the county is implementing a requirement that contracted ambulance service providers send impacted municipalities an email directly when they will be out of service, rather than just to the county.
He reported a consultant has completed a study of hazardous materials flow through the county. On a related note, he said the county is starting on its hazard mitigation plan.
“We got a lot of federal money to complete this plan,” McCorrison noted.
He gave an update on plans to relocate the county 911 center, noting “nothing is set in stone” regarding a location. The county has partnered with a consultant to aid in evaluation of site suitability and needs to renovate to accommodate various potential sites for the center.
“We’re looking at multiple sites including our current facility,” McCorrison said.
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