Agenda - 02-16-2010 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 16, 2010 Action Agenda Item No. (oQ SUBJECT: Amendments to the EMS Franchise Agreement entitled "An Ordinance Regulating Emergency Medical, First Responder and Rescue Service and _ Granting of Franchise and Contracts to the Operators In the County of Oran e" DEPARTMENTS: Emergency Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No County Attorney ATTACHMENT(S): Proposed Amendments to "An Ordinance Regulating Emergency Medical, First Responder and Rescue Service and Granting of Franchise and Contracts to the Operators In the County of Orange" INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Montes de Oca, Emergency Services, 245-6100 Annette M. Moore, Staff Attorney, 245-2317 PURPOSE: To consider amendments to the EMS Franchise Ordinance entitled, "An Ordinance Regulating Ambulance and Emergency Medical, First Responder and Rescue Services and Granting of Franchise and Contracts to the Operators in the County of Orange." BACKGROUND: On February 2, 2010, the Board approved adopting amendments to the Emergency Service Franchise Ordinance, "An Ordinance Regulating the Operation of Ambulance Services and the Administration of Emergency Medical Assistance in Orange County, North Carolina" (EMS Franchise Ordinance) making it consistent with the existing authority mandated to the County by state law. Board members asked that several additional amendments be prepared by staff for consideration. 1. Exception for Fire Departments Fire Chiefs from several volunteer fire departments questioned how the amendments to the Ordinance would affect them. Although staff from the County Attorney`s office indicated the amendments to the EMS Franchise Ordinance did not require volunteer fire departments to be permitted a franchise to provide services, the Board asked that staff develop an amendment to the Ordinance that would provide a clear exception to the franchise permitting requirement for fire departments. (See attached amendment) 2. Due Process Orange County Rescue Squad asked that additional due process provisions be added to the Section XVI, Subsection 16.5 of the Ordinance providing for an appeal of a stay of a franchise. The proposed amendment would clarify that franchisees would at the hearing be able to provide evidence and give testimony which would be considered in evaluating the stay and forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners with the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee's recommendation on termination of the franchise. (See attached amendment)