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Boardman Township study of ambulance services continues
By DENISE DICK
denise_dick@vindy.com
BOARDMAN
A fire department report advocating the start of a township-run ambulance service remains in the study phases, and an outside group has been asked to provide input.
In the latest update of the Boardman Plan, a framework of goals township trustees hope to accomplish, the panel listed exploring the feasibility of an in-house ambulance service.
The report initially was presented by the fire department in early 2008. In early 2009, Fire Chief James Dorman also presented a feasibility study to trustees.
That proposal called for one ambulance and says that the service would better serve residents and may produce additional revenue for the township. The proposal included survey information from departments in Howland, Beaver and Liberty townships which operate ambulance services.
Jim Rosa, who leads the Boardman Business Citizens Committee, said the group has agreed to conduct a review, but it hasn’t started yet.
“We will select a few of the members of our group to take care of that effort,” said Rosa, who is a certified public accountant.
He said group members likely will conduct question-and-answer sessions with the chief and others from the department to fully understand the proposal.
“We’ll evaluate, gather facts and have discussion with trustees as far as what our observations are,” Rosa said.
Rather than the group’s meeting in a vacuum and making a recommendation, he prefers the committee’s consulting to be kind of free-flowing, “so what we end up with is a consensus and what makes sense.”
Harry Wolfe, president of the International Association of Firefighters 1176, the union representing township firefighters, is frustrated with the lack of response from the township since the study was presented.
“It’s a shame that that document has been out for two years and the only reply we get from the administration is that the business committee is going to review it,” he said. “It’s just another delay tactic.”
Larry Moliterno, trustees chairman, said that fellow trustees Thomas Costello and Brad Calhoun took office in January. Moliterno has time to review the study, but he believes Costello and Calhoun should have time too.
He declined to list questions, saying he didn’t want to influence what the other trustees would question.
“We’re asking them to look at it,” Moliterno said of the business committee. “We wanted to get some feedback.”
The insurance companies of those who receive ambulance services would be billed as would Medicare or Medicaid where applicable. Township residents, though, wouldn’t be billed for the amount not covered by insurance. Nonresidents would.
The one ambulance likely would be able to respond to only a maximum of 75 percent of all emergency medical service responses.
If the township were able to collect an average of $325 per patient billed, it would generate about $429,650. Billing fees would likely be about 7.5 percent or $32,000, the study says.
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Comments
Can you get a private ambulance for $325? No!
Now two different administrations have sat on their hands and ignored this proposal, which is a winner for the township AND a benefit for township residents. I guess they don't think the township needs an extra $400K per year.
If the percentage of people paying their ambulance bill, is the same as the percentage that are paying their medical bills, no way. It's a money drain and all it will do is cause the F.D. to use up more township money.
There goes ALLBS making completely false statements about this proposal being good for Boardman's finances. It's nothing more than a scheme for the firemen to make themselves more important and less likely to take the brunt of layoffs. Boardman needs to spend less not more to start up a service that we already have plenty of. In fact, the current ambulance providers are struggling to make money and yet the BFD somehow thinks they can a higher wage structure and still make money??? Not to mention the start up cost including an ambulance and equipment. At least a quarter of a million. Oh wait, ALLBS IS A TOWNSHIP EMPLOYEE WITH THE BFD and has a vested interest is this foolish proposition.
"If the township were able to collect an average of $325 per patient billed..."
That is the problem. I knew apollo would chime in about wages as usual, but the rest I agree with. I have no problem with them making what they make, as long as they don't spend foolishly elsewhere. This, unfortunately, seems very foolish. It seems that with the crime rates rising, and manpower dwindling, the P.D. in Boardman has set it's sights on future financial success. I am not sure if the F.D. is doing the same.
rokscout, it looks to me like the township trustees won't LET the FD set its sights on the future. Remember, nothing happens - good or bad - without the trustees' approval. But how is it a money drain when the FD says they're able to arrange deferred payments so that the initial cash outlay is practically nil? That's ambulance AND equipment.
YAP-ollo, do you think that an extra half million dollars is NOT a good idea? And I've explained it to you the last hundred times you showed that you don't know what you're talking about by spewing your prejudice against township employees (still pouting over that job you didn't get?). You're spinning lies about those so-called high wages and 'conveniently' not mentioning that there will be no new wages because there will be no new employees. They say they can get it running with the manpower they have now.
Hey if it can bring in revenue and not bankrupt any other departments then that is great. Like I said though, should the people only come through with, let's say, 30% of the bills that are owed (that is actually more than the medical field is receiving on average right now). What will happen, even with deferred payments, when there is not enough to cover the cost?
Again, I am all for success in ALL departments, but after the P.D. shrunk it's numbers by nearly 20 officers and still has no money (allegedly), one has to ask who is spending it all.
Me spinning lies about the wages in Boardman is another one of ALLBS's false claims. The numbers I get are directly from the township. In fact, I picked up 2009 wages just the other day and they'll be on my http://www.boardmanfacts.com/uploads/...
any day now. These overpaid and underworked high school grads are making more than many lawyers all thanks to the taxpayers of Boardman. Retiring early and basking in wages and benefits most of us professionals who supply the money can only dream of. Take away the early retirements, the sweet pensions that the bankrupt public retirement systems can't afford and make them feel the same pain that the private sector has felt. As for that moron ex chief who advertised for the minimal IT coordinator job as a senior level position, I wouldn't dare take the 100K wage cut. An ambulance service in Boardman is a loser just like most of the townships employees.
Just like I was wrong about the substation and CALEA. Oh wait, I was right about those too!!! Spent 200,000 getting CALEA to save $100 bucks on insurance and spent a hundred thousand or more on the substation that is now closed. Yup, some pretty smart decisions by the geniuses.
Rokscout - where indeed is all that money going? That's the $20,000,000 question.
Typical YAP-ollo. Can't discuss anything at all without personal attacks. Still pining over that IT job you didn't get?
Yes, I too grow weary of Apollo's insults of men and women who do and put up with more than he will ever know or give them credit for. I just beg for the day he needs help and some "high school grad that is underworked and overpaid" comes and saves his gutless behind.
Boardman is the new south side of Youngstown. More police will be required to stem the rising crime rate. Everyone in Boardman who sat back and made smug remarks about the crime problems on the south side of Youngstown won't have long to wait for those conditions to impact the north Boardman area. Many empty retail facilities and auto dealerships, health care only growing sector.
http://boardmanchanged.blogspot.com/
Do you guys even fight fires in Boardman? I mean real fires, not brush fires. Maybe 1-2 a year? Most of your runs are to fender bender accidents. False alarms that we spend ridiculous money for. The PD solve any murders? The one we have every decade. Boardman might be the cushiest jobs in the local area. Those salaries are simply causing the near bankruptcy of the township. Average PD salary is 90,000 and average FD salary is nearing 80,000. Factor in bennies the envy of the working world and you have fiscal emergency. The median HOUSEHOLD income in Boardman is not even 60,000 and that's entire households.
Yeah, I'm mad that I didn't get the IT coordinator joke job and couldn't take a massive pay cut to work with you guys and gals!!!
The Fire Department planning to be able to handle 75% of the emergencies is a recipe for disaster! If you need two ambulances, then get two. Once you alienate the private companies, they are not going to be inclined to help with backup/ mutual aid. Then what about the resident who gets a bill for the whole amount from a private ambulance because the FD ambulance was on a previous call? Boardman FD should have at least two ambulances or this is going to be a problem.
2 ambulances and the startup costs double to half a million. Where are they supposed to find that? Maybe if the FD takes concessions to make up for the half a million??? Yeah, like that'll happen. Then when all of the private ambulance services go under for a lack of business, then what? Is government EVER able to run more efficiently than the private sector? If this ever comes to fruition, it'll be a real financial fiasco. But hey, so was CALEA and the substation so why not squander yet more tax dollars on goofy projects.
Just curious, YAP-ollo - where do you get your figures? Two ambulances is a half million dollars? Inflate numbers much?
In reality, one ambulance will MAKE a half million dollars PROFIT for the township. Go talk to those guys - they kept track over the last year and have the figures for what the township could have had.
Oh this guy is a trip. I thought you said you were leaving Boardman Apollo? P.S. last time I checked the P.D. was pretty busy. I think you are the only one wishing that there were more murders for them to solve. If they are not needed, why are they called so much?