by Kristina Gabalski
Clarkson Supervisor Paul Kimball called a unanimous decision by Clarkson Town Board members August 13 to terminate the town’s contract with Monroe Ambulance as primary responder a “first step forward” in what might be the eventual re-instatement of the Brockport Volunteer Ambulance Corps (BVAC) as the town’s primary responder.
The town and BVAC must come to a contract agreement by November 15, Supervisor Kimball told BVAC President David Rice during the meeting, “or we will re-instate with Monroe. We have to sit down in good faith and come to an agreement.”
The Town of Clarkson will work this year to make the switch back to Brockport Volunteer Ambulance while the Town of Sweden will continue with Monroe. Sweden officials will be a part of the contract discussions this year and may make the switch back to BVAC themselves next year, if all goes well, Sweden Supervisor Patricia Connors said.
Supervisor Connors and Sweden Deputy Supervisor Rob Carges both attended the August 13 Clarkson Town Board meeting.
Kimball explained during the meeting that there was no reason why Clarkson went first before Sweden in working to make the switch – only that the two towns agreed it is a “serious jump” for Brockport Ambulance to go from covering the Village of Brockport alone back to covering the village and both towns at one time.
“We want to make sure (you understand) Sweden wasn’t slighting you,” Sweden Supervisor Connors told David Rice during the Clarkson meeting. “That’s not what happened. The consensus was that we would prefer to try this as a graduated process.”
Rice thanked Clarkson Town Board members for their “show of good faith. Our board was cautiously optimistic we were turning a corner” following recent meetings with town officials, he said.
Rice said he understands nothing is guaranteed at this point, but that the BVAC, “looks forward to the opportunity to hammer out an agreement that is acceptable to all parties.”
Kimball commended members of the Brockport Ambulance board on their recent discussions with the towns which led to Clarkson’s decision to terminate the contract with Monroe Ambulance.
“Your presentation and discussion two weeks ago had a significant impact,” Kimball told Rice. “You presented a very convincing argument.”
Clarkson Town Board member Allan Hoy also told Rice he was, “…impressed with the (BVAC’s) steady improvement in numbers,” and that he feels the BVAC will do, “what it takes to satisfy the needs of the community.”
Rice told Clarkson Town Board members the BVAC continues to be committed to eventually getting both towns back. He said that as a not-for-profit, the Brockport Ambulance can focus on service. “Our whole purpose is to provide a service to the community that is cutting-edge. Our commitment has always been to residents of the community,” he said.
Contract discussions are expected to begin shortly after Labor Day.
