Transcript for Piscataway Ems meeting on January 30 2023
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 1 00:00:05 Recording in progress. Speaker 2 00:00:08 Okay, we are recording and everyone that was in the waiting room has joined. Hi you guys. My name is Jim Parent Interim e EMS coordinator. This is the January EMS Advisory Council meeting. The time is 1602 hours and I'm gonna call the meeting to order. Speaker 3 00:00:30 Eighteen oh two eighteen oh two. Speaker 2 00:00:33 Thank you sir. Speaker 2 00:00:37 Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided as required under chapter 2 31 19 75, specifying the time, date, location, log in 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 two municipal library bulletin boards municipal website and 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 into the minutes. The Township continues to use a remote meeting format in an effort to mitigate the chance of exposure to Covid 19 as a part of the township's ongoing effort to slow the rate of transmission and avoid overwhelming our treatment centers. In order to make sure a clear record of the meeting can be made and that all parties are heard in an organized fashion, all members of the public will be muted during this meeting. Speaker 2 00:01:30 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 six on your phone to unmute. Upon being unmuted, 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'll be muted again, and the advisory committee or administration will respond as necessary. Speaker 2 00:02:08 Each member of the public shall only have one opportunity to speak during each public portion. 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 up to 48 hours prior to the meeting to be read by the EMS coordinator during the public comment portion of the meeting. Said, comment shall be limited. Three minutes of reading. Thank you in advance for your patience as we continue to move the Township forward during the health emergency. May the last few people that just joined the waiting list and if you could join me in the Pledge of Allegiance, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God invisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Can be seated. Aye, members of the EMS Advisory Council, can you please unmute yourself? I'm gonna do a roll call. Mr. Dacey Speaker 0 00:03:18 Here. Speaker 2 00:03:19 Captain pil, you're muted. I do See you. River Road Rescue squad Representative Mr. Suski in here. Speaker 4 00:03:35 Present. Speaker 2 00:03:36 Okay, is River Road's alternate in? Speaker 4 00:03:41 I think he should be joining. Speaker 2 00:03:43 Okay. North Dalton Rescue Squad. Ms. Green and Mr. Scarpa Speaker 5 00:03:50 Present. Speaker 2 00:03:52 Ms. Farmer? Speaker 0 00:03:54 Here. Speaker 2 00:03:58 Guzman Speaker 0 00:03:59 Here. Speaker 2 00:04:02 And Councilwoman. Lombardi Speaker 0 00:04:04 Here Speaker 2 00:04:09 We do have quorum. I did send the meeting minutes out the October 24th meeting minutes via email about a week ago. Is there a motion to accept the minutes as they were written? Speaker 0 00:04:24 So moved. Speaker 2 00:04:25 Mr., Dacey. Is there a second? Speaker 0 00:04:28 Second Speaker 2 00:04:29 Ms. Green, any objections without objection? So moved. Is there any unfinished business from last meeting? Okay, don't see any hands raised. Is there any new business Mr. Scarpa? Speaker 5 00:04:59 I would just like to clarify that the email is going out to all members of the committee, correct? Yes, because it's there. We might wanna check that email chain because I never received an agenda nor the minutes. I didn't get 'em until about 10 minutes ago, so I didn't verify those. That would be Speaker 2 00:05:19 I'll do Did you get the invite for the meeting last week? Speaker 5 00:05:22 No sir. Speaker 2 00:05:23 Okay. I It's the same group so I'll just check to make sure. Speaker 5 00:05:26 All right. Okay, that's fine. Speaker 2 00:05:34 Any other new business? Speaker 4 00:05:40 I have what I was asked to read. I'll keep it simple. Speaker 2 00:05:42 Is that Mr. Chaill? Go ahead Sir. Speaker 4 00:05:46 River Road in 2023 answered calls in 24 different municipalities in six different counties with over 1200 recorded responses in January of this year alone. We have answered calls in 18 different municipalities in six different counties. Currently at this time it is the request of our local neighbors and supporters of the squad that we state that we still support our utilization in town to the fullest extent allowed by contract and jfk, that's all I have. I wishes stay anymore. Thank you. Speaker 2 00:06:25 Thank you Mr. Sikowski. Any other new business? Ms. Green? Speaker 6 00:06:33 I guess it's more of a notification for the rest of the, the group that we have here. So effective December 18th, north Stelton has suspended its E M S 9 1 1 operation as a byproduct of Piscataway contract with Hackensack Meridian for e m s services at the time of suspending E M S operations, the year to date e m s call volume was 80 compared to previous years annual average of the hundreds going forward, north Stelton will be primary in-town rehab on fire scene and the event that we're unable to man rehab, Hackensack Meridian will serve as backup and Hackensack Meridian will still serve as primary for on team transport. In addition, we'll provide scheduled rehab for in-town fire companies conducting live fire burns and training. So that was a decision based on the fact that we were being used only as mutual aid and you know, keeping membership as we tried for 15 months with the council to work together. Speaker 6 00:07:30 The deal is that we couldn't do what Hackensack Meridian does right now if we took back and did it 24 7, which we can't do. So we are hoping in the future that we can revisit that and work into doing 9 1 1 again, but as of right now that's suspended. The only other new business that I wanted to bring up was trying to figure out how complaints are handled with E M S cuz the council overall the idea was the betterment of E M S services to Piscataway residents. So the only thing that we have is trying to figure out how the complaints are handled and if that should be something that's brought to the EMS council for discussion. Speaker 2 00:08:09 I can look through the ordinance for a second unless anyone has Speaker 3 00:08:13 Aithal. Most, most complaints actually involve billing because the town pays a hundred percent s but not Aithal. S and Aithal S has to be submitted through people's and shorts. So Dana, Dana and Margaret and the mayor's office tend to handle those directly with Jan K and in many most cases they're resolved. The people understand what's covered and what's not covered. You know, the initial consensus of the initial thought is that everything, no matter what covered and that's not really the case, but for the most part on operation we get very little or few or almost no complaints. Family billing. Speaker 7 00:08:55 Thank you. Speaker 2 00:08:57 Thank you Mr.. Dacey. Any other new business Mr. Scarpa? Speaker 5 00:09:06 Do the Hackensack trucks have set spots where they're supposed to stage or is it up to the discretion of the individual crews or the supervisors on duty? Speaker 2 00:09:15 They just looked at the contract today. There are requirements in the contract. I actually don't know if there are requirements or suggestions on where they should stage. Okay. Is anyone from JFK one? I remember this came up Mr. Scarpa a few months ago and Chief Moser said that they're allowed to move based on call volume and stuff like that, but I don't know for sure. Speaker 5 00:09:43 Okay. Speaker 3 00:09:44 Generally have one station at the police station Town hall complex. We've got about a dozen parking space employees to use. So they, the idea is that they man up there leave their personal cars there. The second spot is at the OEM building and they generally have one there. They have to use that building for offices and for bathroom and then one depending on, on where they essentially one floating, unless there's something going on like the National Night Out or football game or things like that where we'll help to deploy. Speaker 5 00:10:22 Now I'm just looking for clarification because somewhere in all of this I became President North on fire. So I'm looking to see where they're supposed to be. Are they supposed to be on my facility where they, what are their requirements? Because again, when we're held to a standard, everybody should be held to a standard. So if they're supposed to be somewhere and they're not there, they're not a, they're not taking care of their end of the bargain and that needs to be something that's either a conversation or if it has to go into writing, then it'll go into writing. But Speaker 3 00:10:53 You're concerned official of North I Mark, I don't believe don't are Prepositioned at North Speaker 5 00:11:05 Thank Speaker 2 00:11:06 Mr. Dacey. I'll reach out to planning logistics and look at the contract again and I'll, I'll shoot you an email. Speaker 5 00:11:11 I would appreciate that Speaker 2 00:11:21 Business. Ms. Farmer. Speaker 7 00:11:27 Thank you. I just wanna thank you to the North Service, all these volunteers, all these service to our Township. It's sad to hear that news and it has been deeply appreciated for all these years. And I would ask moments ago that read the ordinance, can you read that ordinance out loud? Speaker 2 00:11:54 You broke up a little bit. Read which part of the ordinance, Speaker 7 00:11:58 Can you read our intent? What we're doing in this, in this counsel, Speaker 2 00:12:04 The actual ordinance, it's on code 360 and I believe it's about 10 pages long. Speaker 7 00:12:10 The purpose of our meetings are, Speaker 2 00:12:14 I don't have a codified version, I have some handwritten notes on mine. Are you, the purpose of your requesting is you wanna put it on the, the video record or if I send you a copy of the ordinance via email. Speaker 7 00:12:30 I had just wanted clarification Now in of the situation that we find ourselves, our first meet, what our intentions and our mission trying to accomplish would be Speaker 3 00:12:50 Maybe Evan can give me a hand. Evan was on the petition committee. Evan, Speaker 4 00:12:56 I was not on the petition committee but I did pull it up while Ms. Farmer was talking on E Code 360. Ms. Farmer, can you confirm you wanted the duties and the authority of the division of E M S? Speaker 7 00:13:11 Yes please. Yes. Speaker 4 00:13:15 Okay. Cuz there is that separate broken out duties. One Speaker 2 00:13:18 Sec, I'm gonna let you read this. I had, is it 2 22 0.3? Speaker 4 00:13:23 Yes sir. Would you rather read it? Speaker 2 00:13:24 Yeah, I'll read it. It's, if it's okay, I'm gonna read a little bit of a abbreviated version and if you wanna add something you can do that cause it's, it's about a half a third of a page. Speaker 4 00:13:36 Not go ahead, I'll be quiet. Speaker 2 00:13:42 The purpose of the EMS division of EM s is determine the formula of annual budget contributions to the rescue squads and provide that formula to the BA and the Town Council. Receive and make recommendations to Piscataway Township Council upon request for capital Appropriations Rescue Squads receive and make recommendations to Skyway Township Council Upon request for policy changes, four said Rescue squads receive, make recommendations to ska Township Council upon resolutions for Rescue Squads and receive and make recommendations to the town Council upon any and all other such requests which may be deemed properly made to the division of E M S. And with the input for all rescue squads determined the vendor to be utilized for the screening of medical 9 1 1 calls received by the Township PAP and dispatch management of all responding emergency medical service assets. Speaker 4 00:14:34 Ms. Farmer, I think the preamble to that which was not included. Division of EMS is authorized to implement administrative policies of the Mayor regarding the provision of EMS services in the Township and to receive review and make recommendations to the Piscataway Township Council. It shall make recommendations to the Mayor and Council only after consulting with and receiving approval of the advisory council. The division shall have the following duties and authority, which I believe were just read off. Speaker 7 00:15:02 Thank you. Speaker 2 00:15:10 Thanks Evan. I'm actually gonna go to the next part. 2, 2 22 22 0.4. What we just read was actually what the division of EMS does. The next session section is the advisory council. I'll read this briefly since we read the other one. There is hereby established an advisory council that is responsible for overseeing and working with the coordinator to ensure that the division of EMS functions efficiently, effectively, and an in transparent manner. The coordinator shall chair the advisory council but not to be considered a member. And then the rest is basically establishing what the membership is of the advisory council. So it it's responsible for overseeing and working with the coordinator to ensure the division of EMS functions efficiently, effectively in a, in a transparent manner. Speaker 5 00:15:59 Question? Yes. Mr. Speaker 2 00:15:59 Dacey, Speaker 5 00:16:00 Who is the division of ems, if you don't mind? Speaker 2 00:16:03 Sure. Division of EMS is representative and an alternate of the two squads. Speaker 5 00:16:09 Not, not the advisory council, the division, same Speaker 2 00:16:15 Division of ems. I apologize. Yes. Is planning logistics on to go over? Speaker 5 00:16:25 I just don't, I mean is it the Mayor, is it the police department? Is it, I mean, who's in Chaill? Who's in charge of it? That's the Speaker 8 00:16:34 The question. It it's a, the, the Mayor is designated a, a division within the police department. Speaker 5 00:16:40 So who are those people, if you don't mind Mr. Baker? Speaker 2 00:16:44 So I, I can answer. So it'd be, it'd be Captain Milch would be Captain PCH would be the head of the division. Speaker 5 00:16:52 Okay, thank you. Speaker 2 00:16:59 Any other new business Speaker 4 00:17:01 Since we're going down this road and I was gonna leave it alone. I do have a bit of confusion. As the house is placed under the division of police, it says it shall be a division under the Department of Public Safety. The division of fire is not placed under the Department of Police. The division of literally nothing else is placed under depart. The division of police. The division of police is a division in its own right. It's not actually a department as codified and maybe legal counsel can explain why this division is treated differently than every other. Speaker 2 00:17:41 And I do believe this was answered a few months ago. It's its own separate division, which members of the police department are filling positions in that position, in that division. But it is a separate division Speaker 8 00:17:53 Cor Correct. It's staff identified Mr., Dacey and the And Captain, Speaker 2 00:18:12 Thank you for your new business. I don't see any hands. I do have a few announcements. Next advisory meeting date is April 24th at 6:00 PM As of now, it's still gonna be a Zoom meeting. I'll send out an invitation in the future. The annual reports from the rescue squad need need to be submitted to me prior to April 1st, so I can submit them to the town council and the MS Advisory council on April 1st. And the nemesis reports were submitted via email about an hour ago to the advisory council. Speaker 2 00:18:53 Now this is ta this is now time. It's now the time for public comment. If any member of the public wishes to speak, please raise your hand. This is 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'll get a prompt or request to unmute. Please click on the prompt or press 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 comments. The EMS advisory committee or administration will respond if necessary. After you have completed any comments or questions. Meetings now open to the public. I see one. Go ahead, please state your name. Speaker 9 00:19:41 Yes. Good evening. Charlie Kratovil. How are you? Speaker 2 00:19:43 Good sir. Speaker 9 00:19:46 Evening Charlie Kratovil, new Brunswick. New Brunswick. Today mostly wanted to ask for an update on the personnel situation at the police department. Is, is someone serving in the role of chief at this time? Has there been a appointment of an acting chief? Is there a plan to appoint a permanent chief? Speaker 3 00:20:04 Yeah, Charlie, the MS advisory board. None of that pertains board. Thanks for question. Speaker 9 00:20:12 Excuse me sir. Does, does the police chief not play a role in this council? I believe the Chief Moser was at the most recent meeting Speaker 3 00:20:21 And Captain PS absent Captain. Any questions related to the EMS advisory board? Not the operations of the department. Speaker 9 00:20:30 Okay. So I still haven't gotten a straight answer. Is there an acting chief at this time? Speaker 8 00:20:37 The, the department is being operated with a division of labor between two captains. Captain PIL is the chief administrative officer and she is staffing this committee. There is no requirement for the be an acting chief and the township's plans moving forward with regard to the structure of the police department will be worked out over the next several months. Speaker 9 00:21:11 Okay, thank you Mr. Baker. And is the Mayor still serving as the public safety director? Speaker 8 00:21:25 Yes he is. Speaker 9 00:21:28 And finally, I just wanted to ask for an update on the method that these meetings will be held and, and I know the Township is one of the few that has not reopened its municipal offices to the public. And while the Central Jersey Joint Insurance Fund has held a couple of public meetings in the Skyway Municipal Building, it's my understanding the local government has not not yet held any, can anyone tell me what the plans are for these meetings? Are they gonna continue to remain, you know, online only or, or you know, remote access only or are there plans to reopen that building to the public and begin having meetings in person or ideally with a hybrid setup? Speaker 3 00:22:15 So Charlie, you're unfortunately you're a victim of misinformation, which is a lot going on. Our building has been open for several weeks. We are still doing our meetings by Zoom cause the ordinance that was passed by the municipality requires us to spends by $300,000 on broadcast equipment, cameras, microphones, connecting switches, et cetera, et cetera. All which is gonna order for over a year. It's slowly coming in and we expect to complete our shipment hopefully sometime this spring. Right now the technical ability to run a live meeting and broadcast the way the ordinance requires. So until we can do that, all of our meetings are over Zoom as well as because of the health issue. I'm home because I have Covid. So Covid is, I know 10 people right now have Covid. Covid is still around so we're, do things as safely as we can. Speaker 2 00:23:12 Thank you sir. Your time is expired. Any other public comments Speaker 9 00:23:15 Wish you full and speedy recovery sir? Speaker 2 00:23:21 Mr. Chapman? Go ahead. Speaker 10 00:23:25 Yes, hi, my name is Jason Chapman, I'm with the District two Fire Department. I just wanted to formally introduce myself, Jason Chapman. And I'm currently running for District two fire commissioner so I just wanted to introduce myself. Anything that I could kind of bring to the table, these meetings on a weekly, monthly basis. Hopefully after being elected, you know, I could provide some insight and information moving forward. So thank you. Speaker 2 00:23:59 Thank you. Nice to meet you sir. Go ahead Matt, please state your name. Speaker 11 00:24:10 Matt Phillips. So I I, one of the other meetings I had questioned about an Oprah request that was posted on oprah machine.com regarding the, the certifications held by Mr. Parent and the qualifications to be the Chairman of the, the committee here, one of them was to be an E M T per the Township of Piscataway. Mr. Parent does not hold any medical certifications and per the State Department of Health, Jim, Mr. Parent James parent does not hold a valid emergency medical technician certification. And if when checking with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, there is no valid James parent holding a national registry E M T. So I'm just wondering what certifications does Mr. Parent hold and is he qualified to be in charge? There are certain policies in place and I don't understand how we were able to circumnavigate them. Thank you. Speaker 2 00:25:19 Thank you for your comment sir, I actually looked at your op open records request. I had a C P R card only in there cuz at the time the Township did not manage my E M S certificates. I believe if you did open request now my certificates would be in there. Sir, my EMT certificate, I'm not sure what you're referring to with not being a current emt. Speaker 11 00:25:40 I can check with the state again too. Speaker 2 00:25:53 And you finished with your comments sir. Okay. I don't anything. Thank you for your comment sir. Thank you. Any other public comment? Okay, is there a motion to adjourn? Moved? Mr. Dacey is a second. Speaker 4 00:26:18 Aye Speaker 2 00:26:19 Mr. Dacey. 1828 hours. The meetings adjourned. Thank you guys. See you in, Speaker 4 00:26:25 Have a good night. Be safe. Speaker 10 00:26:27 Good night. Record.