Lafayette First Responders to take over mergency transport services

LAFAYTETTE-Volunteers in Lafayette, as in other Sussex County municipalities, are the mainstay of fire departments and emergency medical services, so when this foundation is threatened, it's cause for concern. And last week, the township's EMS volunteers, after a heated debate with the township council, came very near to ceasing operations. But only a week after a controversial town council meeting of July 5, the situation has been resolved, and the First Responders of Lafayette will become the primary ambulance service for the township effective Friday, July 15. At that meeting, an intensely heated discussion that began between Mayor John D'Angeli and John Strowe of the First Responders squad of the Emergency Medical Service soon escalated to include Capt. Rory McGuinness of the unit and almost resulted in her resignation. The crux of the debate was whether or not the First Responders of Lafayette should carry emergency patients to area hospitals. Several months ago, the council proposed that the Lafayette Township Emergency Medical Service begin this service effective June 1. The First Responders squad had been attempting for some time to become the primary transportation to local hospitals. To support their case, the First Responders provided the town with statistics that included the fact the Blue Ridge Rescue Squad (located on Rt. 206 in Frankford), which presently provides primary ambulance transport for Lafayette, has an average response time of 18 minutes. The Lafayette First Responders squad has maintained an average response time of 4-6 minutes. The township EMS is based out of the Lafayette firehouse on Rt. 15 and would make use of an ambulance/rescue truck as an ambulance to transport all patients. The vehicle carries the hydraulic rescue tools known as "the jaws of life" that are needed to extricate people entrapped in wrecked vehicles, and a number of members from both the First Responder squad and the Fire Department have been trained in the use of these tools. From its inception in 2001, the Lafayette First Responders has responded to an ever-increasing number of emergency calls. With 11 qualified members and three more applications pending, the group felt more than adequately staffed to handle transport service. But at the meeting, D'Angeli said that the council had received been notified that Blue Ridge proposed to coverage 4-1/2 days leaving 2-1/2 days to the First Responders group, and that the First Responders proposal would be reconsidered January 1 of next year. Contacted later, D'Angeli explained that he had information questioning the squad's ability to carry out the ambulance service in addition to emergency care. He said "There must be an internal problem," and added, "We've supported the first responders financially, and they have been doing great for the last four years." In regard to the first responders transporting patients to area hospitals, D'Angeli said, "The whole committee wanted it; the whole town wanted it." He continued, "We had even passed an ordinance." But before the squad was to assume this responsibility, he said "word had gotten back to the town council" of a concern that there was insufficient staff to perform transport. The "word" was from members of the fire department, who were not certain of the squad's ability to handle the ambulance service during daytime hours because of a lack of staffing. A subcommittee then was assembled consisting of two members of the town council, the fire chief, and a member of the first responders for a meeting with the Blue Ridge squad. That meeting resulted in a shared responsibility between the two emergency services with the Lafayette First Responders handling transport basically on weekends. McGuinness said that it was up to the council to settle this dispute because they are the "employers" of the volunteers involved. She was passionate in her plea for money for the squad to carry on their activities, but D'Angeli said there are no funds beyond the amount that had been appropriated. McGuinness said, "You're driving us all away. We have been nothing but dedicated for the last four years." She added, "You're telling us that you have no faith in us doing this job. We take one step forward, and we get knocked back three or four steps." McGuiness said, "I suggest we dissolve EMS, liquidate the assets, and revisit this at another time." Referring to the objections of members of the fire department to the arrangement, McGuinness commented, "Why do people who don't do the job have such an influence on the council? I understand the town's concern with daytime coverage, even though we presented them with a schedule and every hour was covered." She continued, "We had our first run on Saturday, and it went smoothly, no problems." Fire Chief Joe Farishon, who was not at the meeting, said, "Volunteerism is down across the board and putting increased pressure on all volunteers. We have a bunch of very good people that are dedicated to do whatever it takes to help the residents of Lafayette." He added, "The biggest issue is manpower." Farishion stated that the first responders group has been growing, but several of them are also members of the fire department. He said his concern was that people would be "burning out." Responding to the mayor's statement regarding an "internal problem," Farishon said, "We have differences of opinion, but I don't know that you would consider it a fight and everybody wants to do what's right for the residents." He concluded, "I think it's just a lot of frustration with the limited amount of manpower and funding." Councilman Rick Hughes updated the situation July 12, stating that telephone conversations and correspondence among the three groups n members of the town council, and representatives of the first responders and Blue Ridge ambulance service n had resolved the matter. "The disagreements between the fire department and the first responders had to do with coordinating use of equipment and manpower." When the transfer of responsibility becomes effective on Friday, Blue Ridge will no longer be the primary ambulance service but will continue as mutual aid to assist Lafayette when additional support is required. Hughes added that staffing might have been a question initially, but said, "I feel and the general consensus is that our first responders are able to provide the residents of Lafayette with all the service that they need." Regarding the funding of the volunteer service, Hughes concluded, "Cap laws have put constraints on the funds that are allocated for these services. We have dedicated volunteers that we are going to entrust with the care of our residents."