Submitted by Chris Rossi, member of the Hamilton Town Council
(Hamilton, NY – Feb. 2015) The Town of Hamilton held a special board meeting on Monday night, Feb. 2, to appoint an Ambulance Service Community Working Group (ASCWG). The questions and ideas raised by community members in response to the creation of an ambulance tax district sparked the idea for the working group.
The main mission of the Working Group (ASCWG) will be to explore ways to ensure that local (i.e., Town of Hamilton/part of Lebanon) ambulance service is provided in efficient and effective ways that meet the needs of the community at minimal cost to taxpayers. The Working Group will consider actions to support, improve, or re-imagine the current ambulance service, and to continue positive changes already in progress by SOMAC. Findings and recommendations will be shared with local government to help in their decision-making, and with the community.
Members of the ASCWG are drawn from local stakeholders and the community: Hamilton Village Trustees – Margaret Miller, Earlville Village Board – Bill Excell, Town of Lebanon Board – Patty Matson, SOMAC – Vinny Faraone, Community Memorial Hospital – Sean Fadale, Colgate University – Brian Hutzley, Earlville Fire Department – John Fontaine, Hubbardsville Fire Department – Ryan Riggall, Hamilton Fire Department – Dick Holcomb, community members with related expertise or affiliations – Dr. Michael Zahn, Ross Hoham, Sami Martinez and members of Hamilton Town council who will facilitate the meetings – Eve Ann Shwartz and David Holcomb.
Community members can send their ideas or question to the group via email at townofhamilton@townofhamiltonny.org or at the Town Office at 16 Broad Street, Hamilton. The Group’s work is important whether or not the tax district is established. In either case, the Town will need to contract for ambulance service and it is in the best interest of the community to keep the associated taxes to the most modest amount needed to ensure good service.
A proposal to move to a referendum on the Ambulance Tax District was discussed at the meeting. Some community members have gathered signatures requesting a referendum – a vote on whether or not to establish the Ambulance Taxing District. After considering the suggestion and concerns of those attending the meeting, the Council has decided to defer consideration of the referendum until the next Hamilton Town Council meeting, on February 12 at 7pm in the Hamilton Village Courthouse.
Visit the Town website for more information on the Ambulance Tax District, the Ambulance Service Community Working Group, or to contact the Hamilton Town Council – www.TownofHamiltonNY.org.