Agenda - 03-15-1994 - VIII-A - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Action Agenda Item No ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 15, 1994 SUBJECT: First Responder Franchise Applications ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING YES NO x -------------------------------- ------------------------------- ATTACHMENT(S) INFORMATION CONTACT Applications Nick Waters, ext 3030 TELEPHONE NUMBER Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Mebane 227-2031 Durham 688-7331 -------------------------------------------------------------------- PURPOSE: To consider refranchising requests, in accordance with the provisions of the new EMS franchise ordinance, from various fire departments providing first responder services in Orange County. BACKGROUND: In April 1993, the Board of Commissioners adopted an "Ordinance Regulating Emergency Medical, First Responder, and Rescue Service and Granting of Franchises and Contracts to the Operators in the County of Orange" . This ordinance updated and modernized the County' s ambulance and EMS regulations, and superseded the County' s 1981 EMS franchise ordinance. One necessary step as a result of the adoption of the new ordinance is the refranchising of existing service providers. The following eight fire departments have submitted applications for franchises to provide First Responder services: Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Eno, Mebane, New Hope, North Chatham, Orange Grove, and White Cross. These applications, if approved, would result in refranchising these fire departments, for first responder services they have been providing, in accordance with the provisions of the updated ordinance. These applications are the second phase of a routine process by EMS staff to help all existing service providers become franchised as required by the new ordinance. In the first phase, franchise requests for Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) services from the South Orange and Orange County Rescue Squads were approved by the Board of Commissioners in January 1994. Franchise requests from the rescue squads and a number of volunteer fire departments for rescue services are expected to be submitted and reviewed during the next few months. These first responder franchise applications were reviewed and discussed by the EMS Advisory Council at its February 23, 1994 meeting, with no concerns or objections noted. EMS staff have reviewed the documentation required of applicants by the franchise ordinance and find that the applications for franchises are satisfactorily supported in each case. EMS staff recommend approval of all franchise applications.