Minutes - 19780118 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ •. `1 L._ ~ ..~ MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JANUARY 1$, 1978 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met jointly with the Orange County Rescue Squad an Wednesday, January 7.8,.1978, at 7:30 p.m., at the Orange County Rescue Squad Building in Hillsborough, N. C. Commissicners present were Chairman Richard Whitted, Norman Gustaveson, and Jan Pinney. Absent were Commissioners Walker and Willhoit. Staff personnel present were S. M. Gattis, County Manager, Neal Evans, County Finance Director, and Agatha Johnson, Clerk to the Board. Gordon Liner, Rescue Squad Chief, opened the meeting and welcomed the County Commissioners to the Rescue Squad meeting. He then turned the dis- cussion over to Chairman Richard Whitted. Mr. Whitted stated that the Commissioners were happy for the opportu- nity to meet with the various Rescue Squads other than at budget time. He stated that it was important to meet with the Rescue Squads particularly at this time in light of the new communication system which should become operational March of 1978. Another reason it is important to meet is the financial commitment the County has with the Squads, which has become suite sizable and a major appropriation in the County budget. He spoke of the EMS Council which had been established to help the Commissioners to have a total picture of the delivery of services and to recommend ways of coordin- ating rescue services in Orange County. Commissioner Gustaveson stated that the Commissicners were here tonight to listen to concerns and to find out how the Berard can assist the various Rescue Squads. Bill Lessig, a Rescue Squad member, spoke of a problem which he felt was a concern of the Rescue Squad. He stated that N, C. Memorial Hospital had not lived up to their commitment to sponsoz the Squad. That N. C. Memorial basically governed the EMS Council and is the political force on the Council. He stated that he felt the Orange County Squad would get lost in the deliberations of the Council. Mr. Lessig stated that N, C. Memorial had withheld the certifications of various members of the Orange unit in training programs for reasons which Mr. Lessig continued to recite. He stated that he felt N, C. Memorial was attempting to make demands on the Squad as to the procedure they were following. Dr. Dent informed the Board of problems she had encountered with the EMS Council and N. C. Memorial Hospital. She stated that the Squad was not informed until the middle of the summer that they had a place on the EM5 Council. The decision to change the location of the communication equipment was made without any input from the Orange County Rescue Squad, as well as the decision as to whether or not have microwave system or a cable system. Dr. bent stated that the squad had received criticism from the EMS Council in regards to the change of forms when the Squad sought to change their sponsor to Duke Medical Center. She further informed the Board of a letter she received from the State FJ'4S Council in Raleigh, dated September 6, 1977, and stating that certain members of the Squad could not start TV's in the field without certification from a sponsor hospital. The Doctor concluded by stating that she felt the Orange County Rescue Squad had been discriminated against by N. C. Memorial Hospital and had not been informed of meetings of the ED4S Council. Chairman Whitted reminded those present that because. o£ the financial commitment of the County to the various Rescue Squads, it was difficult for the Commissioners to evaluate the programs, needs, and problems af.the Squads. Therefore, it is necessary for the Board to look to the EMS to advise them on Rescue Squad matters. Dr. Dent stated that she had received some help from the Council and had no objections to working with the Council as long as the Squad received fair representation. Chief Liner stated the Orange County Squad would be represented on the EM5 Council.