Transcript for Piscataway Ems meeting on January 31 2022
Note: Transcripts are generated by rev.ai and may not be fully accurate. Please listen to the recording (below) if you feel any text is inaccurate.
Speaker 0 00:00:02 This meeting is being recorded. Speaker 1 00:00:09 Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Mike Baker. I'm the township ATAR hand Piscataway. I'd like to welcome everyone to the first meeting of the new EMS advisory council. The council was formed as a result of citizens' action and a boat by the residents of Piscataway to establish a division of the EMS within the department of public safety. There are numerous people on the call who are members with or associated with the committee and will all introduce themselves later, as we get through the agenda, this is the initial meeting. It may be a bit boring for some folks. We'll try to get through some of the organizational matters to, and then get to the substance of things. The, the mayor has asked detective Jim parents who is an EMT and part of the police force in town to initially organize and chair the meeting. The mayor is likely going to point detective parents as the EMS director, once he has the balance of his certifications, that he needs to meet the requirements of the ordinance. So with that, I would turn things over for organizational purposes and for smoothness of operations to detective para. Speaker 0 00:01:50 Thank you, Mr. Baker. I just want to know it's 303 for the calling the meeting to order, and I'm going to read a brief statement on the public comment section since this day, a video on zoom, adequate notice that this meeting has been provided as required under chapter 2:31 PM, 1975, specifying the time date, location login, or dial in information. And to the extent known the agenda by posting a copy of the notice on the municipal building municipal court and to municipal library, bullets and boards, municipal waste, providing a copy to the official newspapers of the township and by filing a copy in the office of the township clerk in accordance with a certification by the clerk, which will be entered in the minutes, the township continues to use a remote meetings format in an effort to mitigate the chance of exposure to COVID-19 as part of the township's ongoing effort to slow the rate of transmission and avoid overwhelming or treatment centers in order to make sure a clear record of the meeting can be made. Speaker 0 00:02:58 And that parties are heard in an organized fashion. All members of the public will be muted during this meeting. If a member of the public wishes to speak during any public comment portion, please raise your hand. This can be done either through the zoom app or by pressing star nine on your phone. I will unmute members of the public individually. If they have their hand raised, when it is your turn to speak, you will get a prompt or request to unmute. Please click on the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute upon being un-muted. You should begin to ask any and all questions you may have. You will have three minutes to speak at the conclusion of which you will be muted again. And the advisory committee or administration will respond as necessary. Each member of the public shall have one opportunity to speak during each public portion. Speaker 0 00:03:53 As the technology does not allow us to know if there are multiple callers on an individual line, we ask that if you wish to speak that you dial in on a separate line, so we can recognize you as a separate individual. Individuals may also submit written comments to the EMS coordinator of the 48 hours prior to the meeting to be read by the EMS coordinator. During the public comment portion of the meeting said, comments shall be limited to three minutes of reading. Thank you in advance for your patience. As we continue to move the township forward during this health emergency, the next order of business, please join me in spite of allegiance. Let me just finish inviting everyone else to the meeting and unmuting people on the advisory council. Okay. Please say adjustment I America, and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with Liberty and justice for all. Speaker 0 00:05:03 Now at the meeting gets started. There's a few more people joining. I'm trying to admit everyone and make sure that everyone on the advisory council was un-muted the next order of business. I'm going to do a roll call. That way we can ensure everyone is on muted. That needs to be on muted. Mr. Dacey here, chief Mosier here, Councilman con. All right. There's this new phone numbers that I don't know of. So Mr. Khan, if you're in here, just send me a message on the chat. I will unmute you. Councilwoman Lombardi Taylor green from north Seldon here, John Scarpa from north stone, Patricia Farmer, the citizen representative from north Delvin. Speaker 0 00:06:06 I do see her in here. I don't see a can't hear me. Okay. Thanks Patricia. Present Daniel split better. Janet is not present pending a funeral out of state and Ozzy Guzman. I see Ozzy. I think you're a microphone might be low. Got you. Okay. We do have a quorum. The first one, our visit. I'm going to do an introduction of everyone. Everyone's microphones are working. We'll do a brief introduction starting with myself. My name is Jim parent. I'm currently assigned to the detective bureau and the scaler police department. I've been a police officer for 10 years. I've been an EMT to past 11. I previously worked in a small rural town as a police officer EMT. And I served as a volunteer EMT for five years with Medford EMS, which handles about 2000 calls per year. I sell positions in that organization, such as trustee and Lieutenant. Speaker 0 00:07:14 And if you would like to, you can also introduce yourself and I'll go down the list here, but Mr. Dacey. Would you like to introduce yourself to anyone that might not know you Piscataway and work with the chief of staff? Thank you, chief Mosher. Hi, my name is Tom Moser. I'm the chief of police here in Piscataway. I am a 57 year resident of Piscataway. I still live in Piscataway, spent many years on possibly town fire department and have been acting chief for one year and full-time chief for a year. I have 33 years of police experience, north style and rescue. Speaker 2 00:08:07 So my name is Kayla Green. I'm an EMT for north Felton, fire and rescue for the past 12 years. I'm currently an ER, an ICU nurse with certifications in emergency medicine and critical care. I grew up in Piscataway. And then when I bought a house two years ago, I bought into Piscataway. I have two boys one's in sixth grade and the other is a second grader. I'm invested in the community and I'm grateful for this opportunity to speak and be a part of the council. Speaker 0 00:08:33 Welcome Kayla. Thank you. Welcome Patricia Farmer. Speaker 3 00:08:38 Hi Patricia Farmer. I've lived in Piscataway for 15 years. I have three children, two in the high school and one in college. I'm a youth services librarian for over 20 years currently working in Somerset county. And again, also thankful for the opportunity to be here today Speaker 4 00:08:54 With this group. Thank you. Welcome. Well, river road rescue. My name is I'm sorry. Defect apparent. You forgot John. Scarpa from north. I'm sorry, John. I apologize. Oh, no worries. Speaker 5 00:09:13 My name is John Scarpa. I'm a ex fire chief in north stone. I was chief there for four years, deputy chief for another four. I've been an EMT for 31 years. I started my time out in Woodbridge, proper. I've seen a bunch of the transitions through the Ms service over the decades. So looking forward to moving this in a positive direction. Speaker 4 00:09:34 Thank you, John Evan. Hi. Yes. My name is Evan. current outage, chief of road rescue squad that our officer here since I started and once he, I don't remember exactly why not for about six years. And we're glad to have been here to help rebuild this organization on, see what has been able to accomplish over the many years. I've been at emergency services for about 13 years. I'm very, very excited to be here today and to see what we can accomplish together with our partners at our other side of town in north Stellan and our new contract partners at JFK. Thanks. Welcome Evans, Councilwoman Lombardi. Would you like to introduce yourself to everyone? Speaker 6 00:10:24 Sure. Councilwoman Lombardi residents of Piscataway. For my 15 years, I've been on the town council for 15 years, advocating for the emergency services. For most of them. I've been involved with the emergency services for most of my life. My father was a volunteer firefighter and my husband was the fire chief of new market, and it continues to be involved on both the fire departments and the office of emergency management. Thank you. I look forward to moving everything forward in a positive direction. Thanks. Speaker 4 00:11:03 Thank you. Appreciate that. Is there a representative from JFK? Speaker 7 00:11:07 Sure. My name is mark Bover on the director of EMS for JFK medical center. EMS. I've been in EMS for 20 years at this point 15 of which as a paramedic and 10 years going on my 11th year at JFK medical center, really excited for the opportunity to help serve the community of Piscataway and appreciate the partnership. Thank you for having us Speaker 4 00:11:29 Texting. I think we forgot a Ozzie. Yep. Okay. Hi. How are ya? Speaker 8 00:11:34 And he's is Guzman. I'm a 50 year resident Skagway low-pass member of the fire river road, fire company and the river rescue squad. I also did the scattered with police academy for 2018 and I'm also a member of the Knights of Columbus with the Saint Francis Cabrini church. Speaker 0 00:11:53 Thank you. Welcome. And is there anyone from Rutgers EMS or the medical directors that I haven't seen yet? If you'd like to introduce yourself, Speaker 9 00:12:09 How you doing? I'm willing Scott chief of Rutgers emergency services. I've been cheap here since 2008. I've been with Rutgers since 1999 and in emergency services since 91 and served as an EMP since 1995. So I welcome to hear the topics of today. Speaker 0 00:12:30 Welcome. Is there anyone that I missed? There's a lot of people joining in here. I don't see any hands raised. Okay. Since we have everyone in the introductions, that order of business is the organization of the advisory council. Mr. Baker, Speaker 1 00:12:49 Thank you, detective th the one organizational thing that I think the council needs to do before we get into substantive reporting and discussion of substantive issues is there's a provision in the ordinance for a designation of a interim director of EMS pending the township. Being able to retain someone who has the full credentials that are required in 22.78. So I, so if someone wanted to make a motion to appoint an interim director until the position can be fulfilled permanently, that would be the next order of business. Speaker 0 00:13:35 I make a motion that we appoint a detective Jim parent as the interim coordinator of the EMS council. Okay. There's a motion on the floor and a second to make myself Jim parent interim coordinator of the EMS Council. Speaker 1 00:13:59 Are there any other questions from members? Again? This is interim. Speaker 0 00:14:06 Any discussion on the floor? Speaker 1 00:14:14 I think that said no question. Speaker 0 00:14:16 Yeah, no questions. Okay. All in favor. Say aye. Aye. Aye. Okay. The I's have it. The motion passed to make myself Jim parents, interim coordinator of EMS council until duly appointed coordinator is appointed by the township. Okay. Is there any other organizational? Nothing else? What organization? I don't see any hands raised. Okay. Reports on north stele and Kayla, would you like to give a report? I'm going to have to unmute you guys again when it's ready. Speaker 2 00:14:56 Yeah, I appreciate it. So north Staunton EMS for the past month has been in service every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM. January was the first month since the contract, we were asked to be in service. And in those 144 hours, we have a crew in the building was not been dispatched for any calls. We provided a monthly scheduled, discounted place in JFK Hackensack, Meridian, and holds to being able to respond. And we're currently forced to for the township and are hoping to change that by sending the closest available unit, whether it's paid or volunteer, we feel it's in the best interest for the members of the community. North stone in 2019 responded to 895 falls. And there were many instances where we staff two ambulances in order to meet the demand 2020, we responded to 7 94 calls members even taking calls during the daytime in order to support RWJ BLS due to COVID-19. Speaker 2 00:15:46 We were also able to provide a second DLS unit within 10 minutes. The second tone's dropping while our primary unit was already on a call for 2021 north responded to 475 calls and stopped taking calls December 5th, 2021. We still respond to south Plainfield and Rutgers university football games. And we provide training for our members, drills and classes for not only north Salton, but other organizations in Piscataway two weeks ago, we held a core, a refresher and members from new market attended north stone takes accountability for the out of service hours that increase over the past two years, we provide career training and we're a feeder organization for many healthcare professions. The pandemic hardest as an organization, like many other organizations. So we are building back up 2019. We have 71 active riding members with only 26 hours out of service to now only 35 active writing members trying to cover the best we can. Speaker 2 00:16:36 We currently have 16 active members in EMT pool, or we'll be an EMT school for the summer in the fall. And they are the future of our organization. They need that experience to become better providers and north stone has always held itself and its members to the highest standards to best serve the members of our community. We want to work alongside JFK Hackensack, Meridian, and the EMS council to ensure the quickest response times and safest patient care delivery. Because at the end of the day, time is tissue and that is best practice. We are here. We are ready to serve Piscataway because we exist because of the taxpayers and residents. It's their vehicles and equipment they've paid for not being utilized awfully. We want to get support. We want to give back to our community and I stand by every member of our organization. Thank you. Speaker 0 00:17:23 Thank you. River road rescue. Do you have a report? Speaker 4 00:17:28 Yes, sir. Thank you for the time. My name Michelle Garcia, again, chief of road rescue. I'm going to read from here and add a little at the end. The real rescue squad would like to thank our community, which we have served for more than 60 years for creating this great opportunity for issues affecting MSR in our communities to be discussed publicly. We look forward to the opportunity to further the services provided to the residents and visitors, our town, and those surrounding us to ensure they receive the highest level of timely care possible. The river road rescue squad was also proud to report that we are currently continuing to work through a merger with our partners of biz Nell and rescue squad, which started in February of 2021. This partnership will not only allow for more reliable service in the boroughs and Nolan and the surrounding communities, but it also allows for reasonable base of operations for service to the north end Arbor area of Piscataway. Speaker 4 00:18:14 The intent was to be able to augment through this partnership. The now ceased operations of the Arbor rescue squad. The river road rescue squad is proud to report that we remain fully functional to this day. I have charted 85 patient interaction slash events to date in January, 2022 alone. Our fleet consists of the following apparatus three BLS ambulances to first response vehicles stock to the Pennsylvania quick response service standard, one high water slash special operation rescue vehicle, one 14 and a half foot Avon rescue boat. One Gator off-road transport capable vehicle. Our membership of providers consists of the following 27 EMPS nine first responders, three of which are awaiting their EMT exam two currently attending their EMT initial course and of this membership or also to swift water rescue technician with more interested members looking to complete training, it should be continue to move forward. We are proud to also report significant waiting list of applicants with more interested persons applying weekly, we fully intend to utilize our ability to recruit new providers to begin staffing no weekday crews and the common law today. Speaker 4 00:19:21 We hope to explore the possibility of working more closely with our colleagues at JFK Hackensack Meridian health EMS to provide service side-by-side and attach with Piscataway. The leadership of their organization has expressed a willingness to explore this partnership in writing. However, the wait, the blessing of the township, which has not allowed this opportunity to move forward up until this point, should this move forward? The river rescue squad is requesting the following actions were taken immediately restoration of our radio access for river road rescue squad radio equipment with Piscataway Township radio system restoration of access to the river for the rescue squad vehicles, the passer fuel system. Speaker 4 00:20:00 It has also suggested at this time, but the township consider restoration of our annual sites in which we once received to cover co-insurance for residents or an effort to ensure no patient the township ever received a bill for the services rendered aside from this report, I'd like to personally thank everyone community that has done so much work. We've done this lift to get us to where we are today. I'd like to thank everyone who's convened today. And we truly, truly, truly do look forward to working together hand in hand, to provide the residents and the visitors of our community and those around us with the resources they deserve in a time where resources are truly. Thank you, detective. I appreciate that JFK, Mr. Bob would like to give a report. Speaker 7 00:20:47 Thank you. Appreciate it, detectives. So we are now going into soon to be our six months with five months under our belt starting in September of 2021. We have the following numbers to report a total of 1,899 BLS responses into Piscataway, a total of 1,912 requests for services and the total of 13 total moments where the number of responses re exceeded the number of units that we had on staff. So at this point, just wanted to point out that in the beginning, we were expecting about 125 calls per month. Obviously under these pandemic circumstances, things are a little bit different and we are at about the 625 per month coming in regularly. We do appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this committee to present the numbers. And ultimately we are looking forward to serving whatever the township feels is the best way forward with the use of resources that are currently available. Thank you. Speaker 0 00:21:53 Thank you, Mr. Barbara mark, Speaker 10 00:21:55 Have you seen the numbers decreasing system-wide in January now that the rate of transmission is dropping in New Jersey Speaker 7 00:22:04 Slightly and it is following the most recent model, which is actually very nice to see that the epidemiologist seem to have it right. They predicted within a week when the number of positive cases would spike. And shortly thereafter, the number of hospitalizations were expected to crest as well. That has also followed suit. I would point out that the end of November, the beginning of December and January have been exceptionally busy. However, prior to that in September and October, we were far busier than 125 a month as well. So in September we responded to 311 responses. October was 392, November was 360 but much busier at the end of the month, December was four 16. And as of 1 29 in January, we were at 432 responses. Speaker 0 00:22:59 Any other further questions from, for the squats? Okay. Next order of business is new business. The meeting is now open for any new business, Kayla new business. Speaker 2 00:23:20 Yeah. So I was hoping about the expectations of what north Sultan can provide for the sounds being forced to and not having any calls while we're there. You know, isn't utilizing who's there. I mean, I could pull a shift in the ER, but I choose to volunteer because it's something that I enjoy doing. And I was hoping that we be able to move towards and whatever that takes, we're willing to do that nor sell in would be able to be seen as a first like the closest available unit that we would then be dispatched to call. It's my hope. And I really would like that a lot. Speaker 0 00:24:04 I can comment if I'm asking you pick the pair. I think that as we move forward in this contract and sort out the bumps in the road and, and, and JFK gets up and running, I don't see that we can't expand some of these, some of these responses from north south. And I think that the first conversations we had, which sparked the current situation were very productive. And I only see that getting more productive. Speaker 2 00:24:39 I really appreciate that. Speaker 0 00:24:42 Thank you, Kevin, would you like to make a motion, Speaker 2 00:24:47 A motion Speaker 0 00:24:50 In new business, you would make a motion that we would discuss it and then the advisory council would vote on it. I didn't know if you were planning on making a motion, but if you're not, that's fine. Generally. There's not much discussion without emotion being on the floor. Speaker 2 00:25:04 So I would make a motion for north Felton to be able to become a closest available unit for responses, for calls since Piscataway. Speaker 0 00:25:14 Yeah. I'm just going to ask Mr. Baker question. Since the advisory council can make recommendations, would it be proper to word the motion as a recommendation to the council? For what? Ms. Kayla, what Ms. Green is asking that that's correct. Okay. So the screen, you want to make a motion. Can you restate your motion as a recommendation to the council, please? The town council, should I just make a, a, a point on housekeeping? I think we should differentiate between the township council of the government and the EMS council. I think we should get in the habit of, of referring to them each as separate entities, either EMS council or, or town council. Okay. I apologize if I, if I put them together, if Ms. Green wants to provide a motion that recommends the advisory councils, making a recommendation to the town council, if we get the wording on that, we can put that motion to the advice, EMS advisory council. Is that something that you wanted to do Ms. Green? Yes, please. Okay. Can you restate your motion please? As a recommendation from the advisory council to the town council, Speaker 2 00:26:33 Scarpa possibly word this better for me. If possible, Speaker 0 00:26:37 Kayla, don't worry. It's the first, it's the first meeting. We're all finding our way through this. Do your best help clean it up if it needs to be. Speaker 5 00:26:47 I think it would go along the lines of we would, Ms. Counsel would push a recommendation to the town council to start to shift VLS response to a closest available unit instead of the current situation. Speaker 0 00:27:09 Okay. I'm just going to restate that prior to a vote. So there's a motion on the floor to recommend to the town council to go to the closest ambulance Mr. Scarborough. Yes, sir. To dispatch the closest available ambulance. Okay. Is that correct? Ms. Green. Okay. I have my apologies for point of clarification agencies, correct? Both river road rescue and the north Bellamy fire company. That would be up to Ms. Green to clarify her motion. Speaker 2 00:27:53 I mean, at the end of the day, it's about patient care. So closest available unit, whether it's us, whether it's a road, whether it's a paid unit, I feel like the closest available unit should take the call. Speaker 0 00:28:12 Okay. So what is a motion to recommend to the town council to dispatch, to available ambulance, whether it's north or river road Speaker 5 00:28:23 Or Hackensack or Rutgers. I mean, at this point it's gotta be about patient care and if we're dealing with patient care, you know, we're not, we shouldn't limit ourselves to the name on the side of the truck. And just the fact that an ambulance is going to get there to help the resident. I think that's more important than anything we're doing. Speaker 0 00:28:41 Okay. Is there any further discussion On here? Thank you. All right, Ms. Green, there's a motion on the floor. Is there a second? Speaker 2 00:29:01 I was hoping for motion that the Speaker 0 00:29:07 I'm sorry, let me just interrupt. I'm asking, I'm asking for a second on that motion. The motion was to recommend to the town council, that BLS, that they will dispatch the closest available BLS ambulance, regardless of affiliation. Okay. Was there a second? Okay. We have a motion on the floor and a second. So there's emotional floor. I'm going to take a vote. Can I add a little conversation to that motion? We can still, we're still discussion w within that motion, how would we deal with timeframes? When, when the respective mountain and river road are out of service? Speaker 5 00:29:59 Did I respond to that? If you don't mind, chief? Sure. I think the coming from Woodbridge proper, I work in Edison. I've seen with all the transitions. If the volunteer squads are not in service, then they're not a closest available unit. The units would have to be logged in and known to be available. If they're not in service, they're not part of the rotation. They're not part of the, whether it's the AVLS, you know, tracking them by location. They wouldn't be in service. It would just be a call in or a predetermined schedule would be probably the easiest way to do that. And I've seen it happened, especially down in Edison. I know that's what the Edison squads are doing right now. They call in, they let their dispatch center know that they have a BLS unit available or two or three, and they just get run into the rotation Speaker 4 00:30:53 As a point of conversation to touch upon a topic. Chief, I believe it was you that said I'm scattering a TV that you guys are working with. JFK. I believe it was stated that it's not written anywhere, but that the calls are being screened by scholarly police as a primary piece app, and then being forwarded for further screening by AMD's ed JFK, again, to, to echo what Scarpa's said we can do. And I miss Mr. Barber, please, correct me if I'm wrong, if he would be unwilling to do this, but we could just continue on the same path that Plainfield and rescue squad and Natasha and rescue squad, or first name. I'm sorry if I have their name wrong, do as well. I believe they even do it in Sayreville as well, where the squad just calls into JFK. And you know, when, when the call gets transferred, they just send whatever JFK shows his post is on their screen. I believe it was uniform service that everyone was looking for, both the mayor and the chief. And I think this is a great opportunity to make that service uniform. Speaker 7 00:32:02 Okay. Would you like me to comment? So that's definitely something within the capabilities of our command and control center as stated it is the model elsewhere. However, I will point out that in every place, every municipality, where that is currently the model, it did not start that way. And it took a little while for it to evolve that way. First and foremost, the ability to track all units and have all units show on a board so that we know who actually is closest and second working through each of the contracts in each of those municipalities, to make sure that it was included and able to be done within the contractual obligations. So the technology is there, the capabilities are there, the ability to collaborate is there, it's just the question of if we are contractually enabled to do so. And if so, if all parties are willing Speaker 0 00:32:52 Well, that was after this meeting, that was one of the things that I was going to take up with counsel about the legality of it. So this is a motion if it passes to recommend this to the town council. So, you know, if it will be my thought to vote on it and, and make that recommendation. Speaker 4 00:33:16 Thank you, sir. Speaker 0 00:33:18 Is there any further discussion? Speaker 4 00:33:21 I have no points of discussion. Speaker 0 00:33:24 Okay. There's a motion on the floor for dispatch to send the closest available BLS unit, regardless of affiliation to squad calls. Speaker 4 00:33:43 How are you looking for a second? Speaker 0 00:33:45 No, I'm sorry. All in favor to pass the motion recommending that the town council, as a recommendation to the town council that any, or the closest BLS unit would be dispatched, regardless of affiliation, all in favor, say aye, aye. And all the posts. Okay. The I's have it. We are going to, okay. I have a few people that are muted. Once you meet yourself, I have to meet you on mutual individually. So once I apologize, Speaker 6 00:34:29 No, no worries. I just wanted to make a note that I will update that vote being that it's a conflict of interest for me to vote on its Weiss. So I will abstain from that. Speaker 0 00:34:41 Okay. I understand. Thank you. I don't think anyone else was muted there. So I will not have to do a rebuilt. The I's have it recommending that the dispatch send the closest available BLS unit, regardless of affiliation. Okay. Speaker 4 00:34:58 Thank you. Just a point of conversation. I don't believe the town council actually has a boat. Speaker 0 00:35:08 You are. Speaker 4 00:35:11 Okay. Speaker 0 00:35:14 Any other new business, Mr. Scarborough? Speaker 5 00:35:20 I did see the tentative meeting schedule. You know, that does cause concern for some of the members of the committee. I am sure what a two o'clock meeting time, no other council or agency in town meetings at 2:00 PM. No, I would look for one of the representatives because I'm only an alternate to make a motion to change meeting times to seven. O'clock being consistent with all other meetings and Piscataway. If somebody would do that for me, Speaker 0 00:35:54 Mr. Scarpa hearing your request. I would like to make a motion to the floor that we change all meeting times to 7:00 PM. If I could comment on that, Patricia, if you want to go first, by all means. Speaker 3 00:36:08 Sure. I was going to second, but I did take this afternoon off of work. As a vacation time. I am a public servant working in the public library in Somerset county. It would be easier for, for everyone to attend. That's why we generally have evening meetings. Speaker 0 00:36:26 Okay. There's emotional the floor to change all future EMS advisory council meetings to 7:00 PM. And there is a second. We have further discussion. Yes. Could I discuss that too? Yes. But the reason that the meetings were put in the afternoon is for, to try and keep it as economical as we, as we can here in the town. Although this doesn't seem like it's, it's a heavy lift to put these together. It is, there are people who support detective, parent and, and myself to get this meeting up and to get all the information together. So we were, we were trying to do it as economically as possible and keep down the costs for, for the pound. That's why they were put at that time. If, if they go to a time after a work day, we have to pay overtime on all of those, all of those people that support this, Speaker 10 00:37:29 We're expecting people from Rutgers to be available. They're available during the Workday people from JFK to be available or available during the Workday are on Blue's available during the Workday. Generally. Yeah. I come in for council meetings, but there's generally now the people paying people overtime with people who are taping the meetings, we're paying them overtime. So people just generally aren't around, but at, at night, Speaker 5 00:37:56 Yeah. The only concern I would have is I'm a high school teacher. So I have to take vacation time. Speaker 0 00:38:01 Detective para, can you take Alex Diaz off of there? I did. Speaker 5 00:38:06 Okay. It would, it would just feel like every time that there's a meeting, I'm going to have to take vacation time to come to a meeting that now I'm not getting paid for that. I've got to burn my own time to do that when there's not another entity in the town that meets at 2:00 PM. I mean, three is pushing it, but three I'm out of work by three but two o'clock. I that's next to impossible for most people that are working a nine to five Speaker 0 00:38:34 Gonna ask if if later in the afternoon would work, work better. It sounds like Speaker 5 00:38:40 What would work? Fantastic. Three 30 would work fast. I mean, there's, there's other options. Two o'clock is like dead of the day. I mean, I'm in the middle of teaching classes. I there's no possible way that I could even come close to being able to be a part of this. And this is something that is important. Speaker 0 00:38:57 I, I, I think Mr. Baker is, is, is right on. The other reason that it was done in the afternoon was the calendar is, is quite taken up for meetings throughout the town for the month. So that calendar in conjunction with the, you know, economics, that's why it was put late. I, if, if three o'clock works, then, then I would be all for 300. Speaker 5 00:39:26 I mean, I mean, just an impromptu show of hands with three, o'clock be better for people that are, that are on the committee right now. And that would be the, Speaker 4 00:39:35 And if we, if we see a director bolder and chief Scott, I, I think it's important that they, they, you know, get some input on this as well. We do definitely want them there Speaker 5 00:39:47 Certainly make three o'clock work. Speaker 4 00:39:50 Okay. She's got, okay. She's Speaker 5 00:39:59 Done with work. Speaker 2 00:40:01 Got at five, anytime later in the day than two o'clock would work for me, I'd be taking less time off to attend meetings. Speaker 5 00:40:09 I mean, with, with three 30, be doable for the committee. I mean, it doesn't make sense to make a motion for seven. If it's going to get voted down and then make another motion three minutes from now and make it for three 30, if we do, we can amend the motion. If that time works for everybody. Speaker 2 00:40:25 Well, I've been, Howard gets out at three 15 when I pick up Robbie. So I had to like arrange for pickup for him. If he could just be a little bit later, that would help me tremendously. Speaker 0 00:40:36 Okay. It sounds to me like three 30 helps everybody. So why don't we go with three 30 and, and, and make, make that a vote. You have a motion that would have to be amended, but it sounds like what's good for most. Okay. I will amend the motion. I just know chief Scott was just messaging me. I think he was trying to get un-muted at three o'clock three o'clock, three 30 is fine as well. I can do not as worried. What was it that you want to manage your motion for a three 30 to start all EMS advisory council meetings at three 30. Speaker 5 00:41:13 It wasn't my motion. I had to defer it. Speaker 4 00:41:18 My motion. I will gladly amend it detective to a whole teacher meetings at 3:30 PM Eastern standard. Speaker 0 00:41:27 Okay. There's a motion on the floor to pull it all. Future meetings at 3:30 PM. Is there any further discussion Speaker 4 00:41:35 On the second side? Nothing. Speaker 0 00:41:38 There's a second. All in favor of holding all future EMS advisory council meetings at three 30, say aye, all opposed, Speaker 4 00:41:53 Detective parent, can you remove whoever the make a guy of the damn thing? Speaker 0 00:42:00 I think it's a different, different person every time. I don't know how that happening. Every time I remove him. I think he's just joining back. I might have to shut up everyone's video. That continues. Speaker 4 00:42:14 Okay. Speaker 0 00:42:14 Okay. Is there any more new business? Speaker 4 00:42:25 I am not exactly sure how to bring this. I'd like to make a motion that the north star on fire company, the river road rescue squad and JFK HMH, EMS meet to discuss, I don't know how to really make this motion. I like to do these three organizations work together to ensure that we utilize the same medical director. How does that sound, Mr. Baker, if you can clean that up for me. Yeah. Speaker 1 00:42:59 Yeah. So I, I see what you, so this is something I probably should have mentioned at the beginning where we're operating under the open public meetings act, New Jersey, also known as the sunshine law, which means that a groups of folks who are members of the, of the council can meet and discuss items and work on things so long as you don't have a majority of the members there. So you can't have four people who are voting members at such a meeting, but you could have three people who are voting members. So you could have theoretically one person from north stout and one person from a river road, and you could meet with the EMS with Mr. Bover and other there's what you've couldn't have would be, you know, the chief one each from a squad and a citizen member meeting that would constitute a public meeting. Speaker 1 00:44:05 We'd have to give notice and, and be recorded as we are now. So I think, I don't know if you need a motion to have that have discussions amongst one another. You can just ask one another, if you know, Mr. Bobar, could you meet to coordinate and talk with us about shared medical director? And if Mr. Bobar yes, then you all meet and discuss it and you can work out the timing probably want to include the detectives in that discussions so that he can keep abreast of, of how they're going. So that makes sense, folks Speaker 4 00:44:51 That does make a motion, Mr. Bravo, is that something that your team would be willing to accommodate as a native myself and Ms. Green and the other types of parents, you know, Palau with you and see how we can, you know, make sure that there's uniformity in the services provided at the highest level of care. That's something that your team would be willing to look into. Speaker 7 00:45:12 Sure. Provided we have the blessing of the town. I don't see an issue with that. The one thing that I would say up front is that our medical director, Dr. Howard Feldman is our medical director for a number of reasons. Obviously we have not just basic life support, but we have specialty care transport. We have a nine 11 communication center. He's the medical director for union county colleges paramedic program. He's an EMS fellow. So there, there are a lot of reasons why he is our medical director. We can certainly have a discussion about whether or not he'd be willing to take on other squads, but we would not be interested at this time in changing our medical director. So with that caveat out there provided that the township's okay with that meeting, I would be fun and engaging in that discussion. Speaker 0 00:45:56 Yeah, certainly as the, you know, as the, the mayor under the, as the director of public safety and, and JFK being a paid service, the myself and detective parent would definitely be involved in those meetings. Speaker 1 00:46:21 Yeah. Great. And, and, and mark, it also sounds like your medical director is very busy. So if there's a question as to whether you can add additional ones, you need to discuss that as well. Speaker 7 00:46:33 Right. And we'd be talking about them operating under his medical license. So obviously there's the question of capacity and I can't speak for Dr. Feldman, so I I'd have to leave it at that. Speaker 0 00:46:46 I'm not worried. I'm not sure that I'm not sure that emotion in this forum to, to recommend to the town council that we engage in conversations is a hundred percent appropriate. I think that we could just kind of facilitate that with Mr. Ballbar and the squads and, and see if we can get that off the ground. Of course, of course, after he talks to his medical director to see if it's even anything he wants to get involved in Mr. she goes, she, whenever you send your motion, Speaker 4 00:47:20 I've actually gonna redact my motion as it seems it's not needed or warranted at this time. Okay. Speaker 0 00:47:27 Any other new business? Speaker 4 00:47:34 We this? So this is we, we do have a few things as we've continued to be active in, in and around the community. This is not something that would require a motion. We've had people come to us in regards to your receiving questions notices for both BLS and ALS from JFK HMH. I understand there's a significant difference between the two services and how these things are built out, explaining it to a resident isn't necessarily the easiest thing. We would just like a single point of contact as to who we can reach out to. So they don't feel left in the dark. We have no problem doing this. We love when the community interacts with us, we just want to be able to get them a good and proper information so they can, you know, move on with their lives and thrive in this community. Speaker 10 00:48:20 And I'll think on behalf of the town, you should be answering any residents questions. You're not involved with contract. You're not involved the administration between JFK and us. I think you should just refer them to either detective para or a mayor's office. So we'll discuss with JFK. I don't think river road operationally needs to be in the dealings between residents and our contract. Speaker 4 00:48:46 That was, that was the purpose of what I just said. Correct. Like we're looking for a single point of contact, Speaker 0 00:48:55 Mr. Speaker 7 00:48:57 I did want to agree that it is a very difficult thing to explain the difference between ALS and BLS and in those cases where a bill is being dropped specific really related to ALS that that is no different than it has been in the past advent play support services probably will happen either from HMH, JFK AMS, or from Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas, depending on where in town, the emergency is the BLS contract and Piscataway obviously is significantly different and completely separate from ALS services. So as you set up and definitely a difficult thing to explain new Jersey's two tiered EMS systems to anybody who is not in the business. And we do have regular conversations with the township with Mr. Dacey and, and his office. So anybody who gets referred to the mayor's office will get referred to us, and we make sure that finance models up with each and every one of those cases, Speaker 0 00:49:51 I can just comment. We have had several contacts with residents after consultation with Mr. Bobbers people that we have sorted those items out. So I think that the way that is working either through the mayor's office or Sergeant Riley here at the police department is working out quite right Speaker 7 00:50:15 Well, and chief, if I can sort of add to that in the cases where there were questions, it seems that there were questions about obtaining insurance information. Keep in mind the subscription service and Piscataway is unique, and it is one of the better models that we've seen out there. So I definitely applaud the community for going down that road. The cost of the transport falls back on the township of Piscataway in the event that insurance information can not be obtained. So it's a payer of last resort type situation. Obviously it is in the township's best interest for insurance information to be obtained and provided. And when insurance information can't be obtained, then the transport falls back on that subscription service. So the service itself becomes more expensive to the town. If insurance information cannot be obtained, I would just say that residents should definitely be prepared for a conversation about obtaining insurance information, but ultimately those that would be where it ends. No collections, no cost from there. Speaker 0 00:51:17 Mr. Scarborough, Speaker 5 00:51:19 Chief or detective parent is if we can standardize a letter out to the organizations with contact information so that there's no misinterpretation on whose number we're giving out. I understand we say the mayor's office, does the resident have the number? Do we have the proper number? If we could get that the same way we would get an agenda or anything just as a point of contact. So we can post it up at the station, if somebody's getting a phone call or anything like that, this way it's kind of standardized as to who's given what information Speaker 0 00:51:49 I think we could definitely get something out, as you say, I am speaking with Mr. Dacey and Mr. Wilkinson and the mayor also to try and send out a letter to the entire town, kind of, kind of laying out some of these, you know, general questions with, with billing and, and the people on the scene. They're getting the insurance information. So hopefully that would alleviate some of this, but we can work on getting something together just to put a name to a, to a number. Speaker 5 00:52:21 Appreciate it. Thank you. Speaker 4 00:52:28 Thank you. That's all. We really were just uniformity. And then just the last question, we had a pretty simple one. There's a new email, EMS Eylea, a detective at Piscataway and Jay, we were just curious who that listserv, just to bang out to like, oh, who were delivering what messages to, and in what instance we should be emailing it you're needed. Speaker 0 00:52:57 I'm just talking to the EMS liaison. Check-in see who gets copied on that one sec. Speaker 4 00:53:02 Okay. Thank you. Speaker 0 00:53:11 If you send an email to EMS at the Skyway, nj.org, it sends it to myself at a general email. Also the EMS liaison Bradley gets a copy and we send it both gets a copy as well. Speaker 4 00:53:26 Okay. So it's just the three of you. Okay. Thank you so much. I think that's about it for now. We just have one other issue, but I'm going to talk to you about it offline in a private session. Speaker 0 00:53:42 Okay. Is there any other new business Ms. Speaker 4 00:53:46 Farmer? Speaker 3 00:53:48 Because what we're doing is so urgent, we keep talking about the urgency of care and providing this service to Piscataway. I'd like to make a motion that we need at least for the next few months, monthly, rather than quarterly, to accomplish some of these things and get these services that we're talking about in place up and running. Speaker 0 00:54:13 Why don't we list out what we need to talk about every month, rather than quarterly. As I said earlier, there's a lot of support that goes into this behind the scene. So if we could list, list out what the things are, what the items are that we need to talk about at a monthly meeting, perhaps we can try and streamline some of that to get the most important stuff done early. Speaker 1 00:54:41 So chase you're sorta you're, you're asking her, like what, what are the top five items that the team would like to work on type of? Speaker 0 00:54:52 Yeah, I think that the five horns that I said in 50. Yeah. You know, I think a lot of this is conversation between HMH, the EMS people here, river road and north Selton. So I think a lot of that is conversation and not necessarily hinged on, on this EMS council meeting. Speaker 4 00:55:19 I think to go along with what Ms. Farmer said. I mean, we we've attempted to, to, to complete a lot of these tasks on the side electronically and via phone, and it, there there've been significant roadblocks. I don't think they're worthy of going over here now public setting, but we'd really, you know, it can take a lot for us to upgrade equipment. I don't know if, if we do work with JFK, if they're going to want APLs and our trucks river road does not have them as of yet felon does, they might be able to replace it with something as simple as a Sonam. I have no idea. I truly don't know how their systems work and, and given the roadblocks that we've had in the past. I think that public forum is inappropriate place. And given what we're talking about and complexity of what we're talking about, I understand and appreciate costs of hour spent on this. Speaker 4 00:56:15 But, you know, we're trying to get something going in ideas that in the future, we can go back to quarterly. And, and I really do appreciate that the lift that it is, but I don't, I don't think now is really the pertinent time to, to, you know, worried about the cost of the meeting. You know, if it's really not necessary, we're going to have 45 minute meetings and we'll all leave and go on with our lives. If it require something more than that, then we'll have longer meetings. And once if the meetings are truly proven to not be needed, we can always remove them from the schedule. I think it's better to have that forum and that expectation now rather than to find we need it later. Speaker 0 00:56:53 I actually had her hand raised. Okay, go ahead. Speaker 2 00:56:57 Well, I just wanted to ask you Mosher. So I was looking for like expectations of what you expect of us, as well as a timeline. We do have the AVLS and the truck. We do have radio equipment. We, you know, I know that Edison got built into JFK's CAD system. How do we have a timeline? Is there something that I can do to help that I know you guys are busy too. I mean, there's a lot going on. Speaker 0 00:57:21 No, yeah. I was just going to say, I think we have to keep in mind that this is this advisory council is exactly that and advisory council. So, you know, as the director of public safety, we still have to get the marching orders for how this, how this goes from the mayor. I just want to keep the expectations in check about how this goes and, and, and plan ahead. I think the discussions that we talked about having this meeting could prove very fruitful, but I think we have to remember that these are advisory. And the other thing that struck me as, as actually not, not true, it is the fact that we're, we're phrasing this as if JFK is doing a horrible job, which they are not, they're not doing, they're doing an absolutely fantastic job, especially in light of this pandemic. So I think that, you know, that we all have to keep that in mind, Speaker 2 00:58:27 Correct. It's not making it as against them. I mean, I went to Muellenberg school of nursing. JFK was my first job in their ER, you know, I, I get it. It's just, we want to help. And we want to be able to help serve the community and be able to do that. But obviously keeping that in check that it is advisory. I look to you for guidance, because I just want to know is how this works, what to do. What can I do that we can get back on the road because we're sitting in the building and we'd like to be able to do that. Speaker 1 00:58:58 Chaill can I make a suggestion because these are complicated and nuanced discussions to have as to how things can and if they should integrate. I think what I heard you suggesting was that the members from the squad and the department and, and JFK can meet, they don't need to wait each month to meet, but they can meet and, and try to work through the details of these things. And then come back to the council, the EMS council with recommendations. I, you know, I always thought of in reading this, that the EMS council is there to take recommendation, make recommendations, not so much meat and deal nitty-gritty on what the piece of equipment is going to go on a truck. I saw that as happening in separate meetings and then bringing it back to the council for Speaker 0 01:00:01 Right. I don't think that the meetings that we're speaking on are not the meetings, but the conversations that we're speaking about even have to happen between members of the EMS council. I think that I know that chief chief of north Skelton, Manny has been involved in the EMS conversations and data Patel has been. So we don't have to worry about that. Open public records, not open up the sunshine law, excuse me, we can just have those conversations outside of the council and then come back and talk about those at the council to make further recommendations to the township council. You know, we have to keep in mind that these recommendations are, are exactly that we're not going to get a whole lot done in this meeting. The, what we get done, we'll be behind the scenes in those conversations. Speaker 1 01:00:58 Patricia, does that, does that work? If there's a commitment, Speaker 3 01:01:02 Can I just clarify? So all of these, all of these conversations are taking place and then they'll come back in front of us to make a recommendation to council, and that will be an April. And that was my thing that, that I just feel like it's, it seems a little more urgent than that, right? The, Speaker 0 01:01:21 Can I ask something stupid and then I'll get to you, Mr. Scarpa. Ms. Mr.. I just have a question. As I read the ordinance, establishing this council, I can schedule a meeting based on need at any time, a special meeting. Is that true? Speaker 1 01:01:42 Correct. Speaker 0 01:01:44 So if something was brought to my attention, I can schedule a meeting. Speaker 1 01:01:49 That's correct. Detective, if you can schedule a beating, if you deem it needed inappropriate, Speaker 0 01:01:56 And that would be before the April, the next April meeting. Speaker 1 01:02:00 Yes. If any, at any time, the, and from the Oakland public meetings act requirements, you would just pass to provide 48 hours public notice and notice to the newspapers if you were having a maintenance. Speaker 0 01:02:15 Okay, thank you. Any other Speaker 10 01:02:18 Discussion, but you know, this is, as the chief said, this is an advisory council, not I'm operational council. And I do operational meetings every day when I'm at work. And at night when I'm home and like this weekend, I was on the phone the entire weekend with DPW, with the stuff that's where, that's where the rubber hits the road. This isn't an advisory it's between the squads to work with, with each other and with JFK and or something, for example, has been having very solid discussions with JFK for the past, you know, month, month and a half months, we've made a lot of progress with them and they report it back today with what they've done. And they ask for some more involvement, which we, which we agreed to recommend. That's the way things get done. I don't think this council's going to be pushing operationally. At least it was not designed to be that operationally and possibly some of them was out of the things. That's really what it's for. And it's not it's it's EMS advisory, Mrs. Barbara and I Mr., she goes, she's got Speaker 5 01:03:24 So, so I think that the big thing here, and I just in listening or, you know, the station and everything else, I think what the S the two organizations river road and north Felton are looking for is the blessing from the town to have a dialogue with JFK about the whole thing, and be able to have an intelligent conversation and come back with plans and ideas, because we were always told that we weren't allowed to talk to JFK, but, and again, if that happens between, on the operational side of the organization, away from the advisory council, that's what chiefs and that's what officers are for. But I think the big thing is just that on muzzling of the parties. Cause right now I know it's starting to change, but I also understand that, you know, there's contracts involved. So I, I just want to think that we're not going to drag this out three months to wait, to be able to say, oh, yes, you can talk to JFK or Hackensack right now. I think we want to be able to put rubber to the road is the operational side of the organization. We'd like to have them have a blessing to be able to have those operational conversations. If we were going to do this, what would we do? Be able to present it to the delegates, to the committee, to be able to come back to our meeting and have that forum to have the recommendation from this group. So I think that's what we're kind of looking for, at least on the operational side of the organization. Speaker 0 01:04:48 Mike, I think they're just comments on this. After what I say as a vendor, the TAship would be, would be very JFK. Being a vendor. The township would be very apprehensive about allowing just conversations outside of, of our, of our venues. So I want to make sure that the council understands that JFK is a under contract by the township and those costs, those conversations would have to happen through the township. Speaker 1 01:05:24 Yeah. The correct shape, the, the detective and that door you would with, what's going to be involved in those comments. Speaker 5 01:05:32 And I, wasn't looking for a secret behind the scenes conversation. I just want to know that those conversations are available to move forward for the operational side of the organization. That's, that's the part that, you know, what happens on the operational side? I was, I was a fire chief. I understand. I want there to be progress. I don't want us to come back here in April and look at each other and go, well, we had a meeting, we had some ideas and there was no conversation outside of here, operationally. I think that's the thing I'm looking to try to avoid. Is this turning into just a drag and what kind of move Speaker 0 01:06:09 As Mr. Baker said earlier? I think that the conversations that we've had with doorstep and have already been productive, and as I said earlier, will only get more productive. Speaker 5 01:06:20 Okay. Thank you. Speaker 4 01:06:24 Okay. This is actually very concerning. The rural rescue squad has not been invited to be in the conversation. We have attempted to have these conversations. We've had them via email where we've reached out and simply put it. The conversations has either been refused or simply not had. And now we're finding out in a public setting that felon is 42 when that was never, was never even offered to us. So, I mean, it's kind of problematic. I, I do feel that we should have more meetings as an update. And now with everything that's been shared publicly, that we were just woefully unaware of and folded. We could not do on our own as Mr. Scarpa said, you know, we didn't know the muzzle was in the process of being removed. I really think we do need to have more frequent meetings. You know, if it's not monthly, then pick, you know, like every six weeks I understand there's the costs, but we're here. Speaker 4 01:07:23 And river road would not be answering the volume of calls that we're answering at night and on the weekend, if it wasn't for the fact that quite literally everyone is hurting and even the state New Jersey, we've had the worst enrollment and EMC initial courses last year across the state that we've ever had since I believe the program ever existed. So there's a shortage. The healthcare system is hurting. EMS is none different. And you know, if we can help JFK cover this town better than they can help maybe cover somewhere else better. And at no point did we ever put JFK down just as a serious point of clarity, we've looked forward to working with JFK. We have nothing but the utmost respect for them. And we've told them this many times over, even after this contract is awarded. So Bravo to JFK, Mr. Bulger, mark you're, you're doing great job. Speaker 4 01:08:13 There was never the intent of, we just want to be able to serve the community that we've been serving for 60 years in a time of need, where there's just been massive market shifts all the way from payroll to costs, to just sourcing vehicles. I mean, there was a period of time. You just could not buy a vehicle. We just want to be here and help. And these, these meetings now with what's been shared, I think now we need even work them then before that's actually sold me further down the road of, of, of that, that happened meeting more. Speaker 1 01:08:51 Okay. Can I make a, can I make a suggestion? I know that there has been over the past year, some tension between and amongst the players and that trust might not be the first word that comes to everyone's mind when dealing with one other on this, but we now have a new interim director. My suggestion would be to let's start some of the meetings that the chiefs and others have talked about with folks present, sorry about that folks present. And that you can rely on detective Perry if he thinks that there's something that requires a meeting in between now and April, that he would call for a, a, a meeting. How does, how does that work for folks, Speaker 4 01:09:48 Mr. Baker? We can call for meetings as well, too. I believe Aquar quorum. I think it said Speaker 1 01:09:52 Yes. Speaker 4 01:09:54 So there's, safety's on both ends, but can we, can we at least agree, Ms. Farmer, would you be okay with, if we at least agree to add one more and, and, you know, we can always add more after that. Just a status update. Speaker 3 01:10:07 I think that's a great start. And then anyone can contact, should there be the need for another meeting? Speaker 4 01:10:12 And then, then there's just so many different checks and balances to add more meetings that I think we can appease a chief is looking for in terms of costs or while in Mr. Dacey. So at least one more between now. And then what day would you like this farmer to add to your emotion? Or what month? And then if you like Speaker 3 01:10:39 With late February, makes sense, right? Or early March. Right? Am I looking at Speaker 4 01:10:47 ? I agree. Speaker 3 01:10:55 Okay. So I don't have a calendar in front of me, but, but in, in between January and April, we put one right in the middle. Speaker 5 01:11:03 What if we, what if we went somewhere between March 7th and March 14th, that gives you about six weeks. Because with tomorrow being the first Speaker 0 01:11:12 March 7th, a Monday, March 14th is a Monday. If you guys want to stay Monday at three 30, that's when Mr. Perron we'll work, our detective parallel will work best for you for your schedule. Originally right now, February 28th, I'm looking at right now, that's one month out from today. I think we can get a lot done there as far as that we're feel. Speaker 3 01:11:46 Yeah. I think that makes sense, right? To meet with within a month. That would be Speaker 0 01:11:50 Okay. There's a motion on the floor by Ms. Farmer to schedule an additional EMS advisory council meeting on Monday, February 28th at the normal time of 3:30 PM. Is there a second? And we have a second all in favor of holding an additional EMS advisory council meeting on Monday the 28th at three 30, please say, aye. And there was a post post post. I'm going to unmute Evan here. And we're actually going to go to a roll call vote. Can I have a sheet please? I'm Mr. Dacey. The motion was to hold an additional meeting on February 28th at 3:30 PM. How do you vote? I don't believe we should have meetings about having goals, chief Mosher. I wish I could. Mr. Dacey stops north Delvin rescue squad. You're the, you're the vote on the alternate. I mean, I'd like to be able to speak to everybody and see that we are moving forward. I want that more than anything. Was that a vote in a negative Ms. Screen? I think we should have a meeting. I'm going to show it in the affirmative. Okay. Ms. Farmer. Speaker 3 01:13:26 Yeah, but I think we should have a meeting to work through this as quickly as possible from my town Speaker 0 01:13:32 River road rescue squad. I look forward to a status update at the end of February. I believe we should have another meeting. And Mr. Guzman, affirmative cause meeting. Okay. The motion passes, there was four votes to two, four votes to have another meeting. There's going to be a meeting on February 28th at three 30. I believe it's going to be on zoom as well. And I will send out a notice for that meeting since any other new business, this farmer and Evan proposed this and mostly chemo, I was suggested it and send you what he's expecting to be able to accomplish simply put without, I don't want to meet, just to meet. I've had many, many, many, many meetings in the last five years with Evan. I need to know what he's trying to accomplish. And what he's going to do is in order for us to keep having extra meetings, I don't want to meet, just meet. Speaker 0 01:14:47 Okay. Any other new business? Let me just check. I don't see any hands raised. If there's no other new business, we're going to move on to announcements. All right. Are there any announcements before I make my announcements? We'd like to thank everyone that came out and got a COVID test that needed to call the test. We look forward to hopefully rezoning community CPR classes, as things calm down. Okay. For the quarterly. Thank you for the quarterly meetings. There are quarterly meetings this year for the EMS advisory council of April, July, and October. The next meeting would be on February 28th at 3:30 PM. Speaker 0 01:15:37 And this is now the time of the meeting for public comment. So if any member of the public wishes to speak, please raise your hand. It can be done either through the zoom app or by pressing star nine on your phone. I will unmute members of the public individually. If they have their hand raised, when it is your turn to speak, you will get a prompt or request to unmute. Please click on the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute yourself at that time. Please state your name and address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comment. The EMS advisory committee or administration will respond if necessary after you have completed any comments or questions Mr. Phillips. Yeah, Speaker 12 01:16:45 Matt Phillips Canterbury court Piscataway. I've been a 35 year resident of the town. I'm also been an EMT for 20 years and I've been both on squads and Piscataway and in surrounding towns. My father was the chief or captain time of the road squad for about 10 years and oversaw the response to world trade center on nine 11. That being said, I think that what's happened with township and EMS is shameful. And he requests to use utilize the closest available ambulance is that shouldn't even be a request. It's common sense. It's called performance-based EMS. That's what Robert Wood and JFK use to sell their products and sell their contracted services. It's just common sense. And you know, if there's a call at the McDonald's across from north Dalton station, if you're sending a truck from 5 55 Sydney, then the townships should be ashamed of themselves for allowing that to happen. Speaker 12 01:17:52 If north Dolton has an available winding. The other question that I have for mark Bobar is he reported 13 times that there was 13 occasions that JFK could not respond. They didn't have the vehicles. Is that 13 occasions that there was no vehicle in town that was assigned to Piscataway, or is that 13 occasions of which it was just, they didn't have an ambulance to send from, you know, my touching or some other municipalities, because we have to remember that if they can't get an ambulance, if all three are used and they're not allowed to use Piscataway as ambulances, chances are, they're calling for one out of Somerset or whatever other, you know, touch in whatever town they're covering, which is increasing your response time to very inadequate times. So I kind of want clarification on that, but other than that, I'm done. Speaker 0 01:18:53 Thank you for your comment. Are there any other public comments? I have an email from Ashish Kumar. He says, hello, council members due to a scheduling conflict. I am unable to attend this meeting via assume I am submitting my comments via this email. All of us have gone have gone through a lot in these past two years, due to COVID-19, many of us have lost loved ones. The time has come to put the politics and bickering aside and work together. River road rescue squad has been a part of our community for a long time. I would like to see this council and township administration recognize that please make river road squad a part of Piscataway EMS plan. Thank you. She's Kumar seven Simon court. And I'm looking, I don't see any other hands, right. And raise. I'm just going to give it one more minute here. Okay. I have no more hands raised. Is there a motion to adjourn the meeting? There's a motion to adjourn and second all in favor and the meetings of germs.