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Minutes 04/29/1998 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL (EMSAC) INFORMAL MINUTES April 29,1998 2:00 P.M. EMERGENCY MEDICAL, SERVICES HEADQUARTERS 3301 East Tamiami Trail Council Members Present: Bob Laird Excused: Roger Evans Gail Dolan George Leamon Ten, Ortengren Commander Reed Mike Davis Rhona Saunders Fay Biles Paul Gunther Mohr Chief Brett Ortengren Jell Page Gary Young The regular monthly meeting of the Collier County EMSAC committee was called to order on Wednesday April 29, 1998 by Bob Laird, Chairman. Minutes were approved as read. OLD BUSINESS: Bob Laird stated he had sent a letter to the County Commissioners suggesting Chief Tobin be relieved from his duties on the board due to his recent absenteeism. Mr. Laird received a phone call from the County Attorney Weigel suggesting Chief Tobin's position was an ex-officio position and not a voting position Mr. Weigel felt it would be all right for him to continue but if the Chief and or his delegate continue not to attend the meetings we could take other action. I have no problem with that. In the meantime I have received a letter from Chief Tobin stating he had a family emergency come up and he did not think about calling. Battalion Chief Ortengren stated he would he attending the meetings as Chief Tobin's delegate, to answer the questions he can and take hack to Chief Tobin and the tire chief's association the questions he cannot answer and provide the answer's to the committee. Battalion Chief Ortengren will also provide a brief summary to Chief Tobin of the meeting. Rhona Saunders stated that this is exactly what I'.MSAC has been looking for. Paul Gunther-Mohr inquired as to George Leamon absence. 1 le had not been in attendance. Chairman Laird stated he was un-excused last month, however, he did call for this meeting and he is attending a funeral. Rhona Saunders requested since she had not had the opportunity to meet with Chief Tobin, that he attend a meeting. Chief Ortengren stated he would relay that information to the Chief Battalion Chief'Ortengren stated he had asked Barbara for copies of the last years minutes. Paul Gunther-Mohr inquired about Commander Reed. Ile is still a member but possibly out of town. Tim Smith has resigned. The question was raised if he will be replaced. Motion made and seconded to replace Tim Smith. Motion passed. Chairman asked Commander Page to notify Sue Filson of vacancy. Rhona Saunders brought the issue. of the difficulty between EMS and East Naples Fire Department and the complaint that was filed in February with the State. Was any input taken from EMSAC"? She does not recall it. She believes Ihat ii is the fiduciary responsibility as advisors to the BO('(' that EMSAC stake recommendations. Bob Laird remembers this discussion , but he cannot remember when it was. Ile did remember that Dr. Toper was involved. discussed. Battalion Commander explained that this involved a State Matching Grant Application filed by East Naples Fire Department for extrication equipment. This application has a clause in it that says you must have an active Memorandum of'(Jnderstanding with the existing EMS provider, hut ENFD did not an MO(J, so EMS was wondering how ENFD got this grant. So Jorge Aguilera requested the information. Asst. Chief Pottiger requested a letter of support from EMS for this grant. Jeff sent the letter but stated that EMS did not want to deprive the residents ofI:.ast Naples of this extrication equipment, however ENFD does not have an existing MO(J with their EMS provider_ ENFD did not send this letter, but called the state and they told him to send the "old" MO(J. (.)r. Toper rescinded this MOO in 1905 05 at an ENFD hoard meeting. So this is what we are questioning. Because this EMS grant did not go to the local EMS provider ENFD could be requested to return this money with interest. This is a competitive grant and could restrict money being disbursed in other areas. The issue is whether the rules were followed. Rhona Saunders reminded everyone that this is clearly a "I lot political issue and should have been handled with recommendations from the FMS•\( Council and she never remembers this being discussed Jell stated that this all came ahorii as the result of a simple inquiry which was printed in the paper thereby creating the current political situation. The same inquiry situation is also occurring at Marco Island lire Discussion followed with regard to operational versus policy decisions. Paul Gunther-\1ohr mentioned that he feels in this situation the line has been crossed - the issue is now a political one dire to the actions of ENFD and that prior to now the inquiry was day to day business. Jeff reminded everyone that any time an inquiry or investigation is undertaken by the State of Florida confidentiality is of the utmost importance. The difference in this situation is that information was being requested by the public from ENFD and this was what was released to the Naples Daily News. ENFD brought this to the BOCC it was not even on the agenda. Chief Flagg added that we are the "Gatekeepers" in local EMS grants and that we have a responsibility with regard to the truth in these matters. EMS did what we are required to do - this issue was with ENFD and we did not know that they were going to make a political issue out of this. Fay Biles feels that BOCC has no right to censor Dr. Tober - if he wants to write letters to the editor that this is his right. Battalion Chief asked if the MOt' is made with the BOCC or Dr. 'Toper. Jeff responded that this is with the BOCC because they sign off on it. Fay Biles filled in the EMSAC members with regard to the same situation with MIFD and their State Matching Grant for a boat. Chief Flagg added that MIFD grant was sent prematurely with out the changes that Dr. Tober requested even though he was assured that these changes had been made. He then wrote a letter to the Marco City Manager placing them on notice that and the State EMS Office on notice that we have a responsibility as the state licensed provider, that what action they take is theirs. Bob Laird reviewed with the EMSAC members their responsibilities as directed by the BOCC. The Pay Plan was approved by the hoard. However due to the delay in its presentation date of October a significant amount of unplanned Overtime was incurred. This will he offset by an additional 1300 billable transports as well as a transfer from the General Fund which should he a wash as soon as DOR collects the funds for the additional transports. NEW BIISINISS Fay Biles reminded Diane that the Departmental Budget meetings were coming up for EMS and asked if there was anything the EMSAC members need to bring up or say to the Greater Naples Civic Association Committee. The only item mentioned was to increase the ability of the Department of Revenue to increase their collections. A 300.00 base rate and a maximum cap 435 miles was capped off at a total of 400.00 was in the minutes ofthe last meeting. This was turned into the Budget Office. Medicare is still set at 250.00 about one dollar less than last year. Commander Aguilera is actively recruiting to complete his goal ()Chine 30. He has placed ads on the Internet to accomplish this goal. May fifth is the Public Safety Meeting on Marco. They are researching the idea of Marco Island Fire Department taking over EMS for the City of Marco. Unfortunately their data is overstated by 300,000 dollars. Their data is flawed. Diane is planning on attending - Fay Biles suggests that any reports or data be provided in writing. Fay has a report by the cities who have already created Public Safety Divisions and the information is very detailed. Battalion Commander Page advised that.their is quite a hit of activity on America on Line specifically centered around Collier County and the Fire Department employees. This is directed mostly at Chief Flagg and Commander Ortencren - these firefighters are engaged in personal attacks. Battalion ('hiefOrtengren finds this hehavior appalling especially in light of the ability of these tire fighters to cone forward in a public thrum and state their opinion. Rhona Saunders suggests that we down load and keep copies of these statements. Battalion Commander Ortengren stated that the attacks are full of cruel names and personal attacks. but never issue related information. Diane provided the EMSAC nienihers with the upcoming workshop date to discuss the partnership between EMS and the Fire Departments for the Single Vehicle Response which answers the question - why do so many emergency vehicles show up at each call ? This includes the ALS engine program when a second call conies down and the EMS unit is already dedicated. We would place a Paramedic/firelighter on the Engine and a Paramedic/Firefighter on the Ambulance this would resiilt in community members getting ALS 100% of the time. Meeting Adjourned EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL (EMSAC) AGENDA April 29, 1998 2:00 P.M. Health Building 3rd Floor 3301 East Tamiami Trail CALL TO ORDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS 6 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL (EMSAC) AGENDA April 29, 1998 2:00 P.M. Health Building 3"1 Floor 3301 East Tamiami Trail CALL TO ORDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS 6