August 2, 2015
Issue No. 31
www.westsidenewsny.com
West Edition
Distributed to Bergen, Clarendon, Holley-Murray and Brockport-Sweden
No action by Sweden leaders on ambulance contract by Kristina Gabalski
It appears the Town of Sweden will continue with Monroe Ambulance as primary responder for ambulance services. Despite an effort by some residents in the community to have the Town Board cancel their contract with Monroe and designate Brockport Ambulance Corps as primary responder, Sweden Town Board members July 28 didn’t take any action regarding ambulance service, indicating they will continue with Monroe. Under New York State Law, municipalities must cancel their current ambulance contracts by August 20 each year if they want to re-negotiate or enter into a different contract. The July 28 Sweden Town Board meeting was the last before that August 20 deadline. During the public comment session of the meeting, Brockport Ambulance Chief Cody Dean asked board members not to renew the primary responder contract with Monroe and noted the public support Brockport Ambulance has received. Two Sweden residents then expressed mixed opinions. Pete Hare said Monroe Ambulance has done an outstanding job. “I’ve been offended as I ride around the village looking at signs telling us in Sweden we have to do this. Do not change anything. Leave things alone,” he said. Residents in the village and town who support Brockport Ambulance have placed signs in their yards calling for the change. Resident Dean Westcott said Sweden should return to Brockport Ambulance as its primary responder. “Go back and sign with the Brockport Ambulance Corps,” he told town board members. “I’m still standing here because of the Brockport Ambulance.” Westcott explained that the Brockport Ambulance saved his life after suffering a heart attack. Monroe Ambulance Deputy Chief Mike Bove reported to the board and said Monroe is dedicated to the Brockport community and has 34 employees who live, attend church, and are involved in the greater Brockport area. He reported on the number of requests for service
Former Sweden Supervisor Jean Brooks speaks with Brockport Ambulance Chief Cody Dean at the Brockport Farmers Market on Sunday, July 19. He and Lieutenant Sue Dann were on hand at an information booth. Signs promoting the designation of Brockport Ambulance as emergency service provider can be seen throughout the area. C. Martin photo. from July 2014 - June 2015 from Sweden, Clarkson, Hamlin and Eastern Orleans County. The total calls numbered 4,318, with Monroe answering 98-99 percent, Bove said. His report included 1,417 calls from the Strong West facility. “Strong West averages five calls a day,” he noted. Bove also announced that Monroe Ambulance is working to implement a community paramedic pro-
gram that will provide non-emergency care performed by paramedics in patients’ homes. “It should be ready to roll out by fall,” he said. “I understand it’s a difficult decision,” Bove told town board members regarding ambulance service, “but you have to do what is right for the majority of residents.”
Sweden Town Board members displeased with legislation regarding library district by Kristina Gabalski Sweden Town Board members are asking Governor Andrew Cuomo not to sign state legislation calling for the creation a Seymour Public Library District. Town Board members voted unanimously during their July 28 meeting to make the request in the wake of the passage of bills in the State Assembly and Senate on June 17, which call for creation of a library district. “We cannot support creating another taxing authority in our town,” Supervisor Robert Carges said. He noted the Sweden Town Board, “stuck it’s head out,” the last two years by agreeing to provide additional money to the
library, a move which he said was not repeated by the Town of Clarkson or Village of Brockport which are also served by the library and contribute annual funding. Sweden Town Board member Donald Roberts agreed. He said the last two years Sweden went above and beyond the normal funding commitment. “We wrote a check for a considerable amount of money to fund the library,” Roberts said. The resolution passed states that Sweden elected officials and residents were not aware of the legislation prior to its being submitted to the Assembly and Senate, and that, “any portrayal by the Seymour Library or its representatives to the contrary is inaccurate, untrue
and/or misleading.” Additionally, the resolution states the town is committed to meeting the Seymour Library’s, “reasonable budget requests in the future,” and calls on the Clarkson Town Board and the Brockport Village Board to continue cooperatively funding the library to prevent the creation of an “unnecessary taxing authority.” During the meeting, Seymour Library Director Carl Gouveia, apologized for the lack of communication with the Board. “I thought Supervisor Carges was supportive. I’m sorry for the assumptions I made,” he said.