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Legislature Approves County Flycar Services Through Remainder of 2007
2007 sales tax revenue currently lags by $2.8 million
by Margaret Sternberg
The Putnam County Legislature called a special meeting on August 27, 2007 to reverse itself and approve $116,250 in additional monies that will fund advanced life support flycar services through the end of 2007.
The unanimous vote, with Legislator Robert McGuigan absent, came, according to Chairman Dan Birmingham, on the heels of a promise by County Executive Bob Bondi that the county would put out a full RFP (Request for Proposals) prior to the hiring of a service for 2008. The County had used an "informal RFP" process in 2007 that did not require the lowest bidder be picked. However, only two out of four providers eligible to work in the county bid on the contract.
Legislator Vinny Tamagna said he had not thought in terms of the County not having an emergency service, adding that public safety comes first. The issue, he said, was "the process and fiscal responsibility and just a bad precedent in changing a contract midway in."
Tamagna lambasted the inclusion of an "opt out" clause in the contract, citing the use of the clause to "leave the residents of Putnam County hanging" and saying the incident was part of a larger picture in which the Legislature "gets small pieces of a puzzle without ever seeing what the big picture is." Tamagna suggested that should this be a move toward there being a county fleet, there should be a "dialogue now" rather than incremental steps being taken.
Legislator Terry Intrary maintained that "the Legislators never said 'no' to anything," but had looked for different approaches to the issue by which the county could save as much as possible and still maintain the same quality service. Intrary said that he took it as a "personal affront" that anyone should say that "he [as a legislator] did not want ALS (Advanced Life Support) in this county." Intrary said the Legislature as individuals and as a body had never said they did not want ALS, but that they "did not want to be held up" by the service provider, adding that he "still thought we were being held up…"
Intrary suggested that all alternatives should be considered, including a county-wide referendum to decide whether or not to continue the service. Intrary suggested that a better way could be found to deliver the services and "continue the good work that they do…without causing panic and fear in this community."
Legislator Tony Hay said he had no problem with providing services, suggesting the Legislature's action had been "a shot across the bow" to the Administration to "bring us a better package." Hay commended the service but said the County "cannot continue to be held hostage by any method." Hay said that he was hopeful the service could be provided at a more reasonable cost if possible and had hopes that the villages and towns could financially contribute to the county-wide service.
Hay also warned that the approximately $950,000 the service is expected to cost in 2008 is not the only charge involved. Basic Life Support from the fire department is free transport from most parts of the county, although some charge $250 plus mileage. However, ALS (the county service) is approximately $430 plus mileage. The first service that arrives on the scene transports the patient.
Chairman Birmingham said there were several things he wanted to see included in the RFP, and some he did not. The County, he said, will not be responsible for any billing for use of the emergency service. Birmingham discounted the possibility of the County running its own emergency service, saying the financing was not there.
Birmingham suggested the inclusion of some type of performance bond in the RFP so that if the provider pulls out of a contract, the County will have a pool of money that is not taxpayer money that can be accessed. Legislator Tamagna suggested that a performance measure be included and that there be financial consequences to under performance.
In other business, the Legislature's Audit & Administration Committee also met that evening, passing a number of resolutions without discussion, also foregoing a discussion of the 2008 budget knowing that County Executive Bondi would be presenting that budget to the public the following week.
Sales tax figures for 2007 as of July showed that the County is currently running $2,834,038 behind what is needed to make the $46,033,000 budgeted for sales tax revenue for 2007.
The September meeting of the Audit & Administration Committee will be posted on the PCN&R's website as soon as it becomes available.
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