Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ems Resources Non Transport Vehicles topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
West Hartford seeks authorization for three reserve non‑transport paramedic vehicles
Summary
At a public hearing, the West Hartford Fire Department said it applied to add three non‑transport paramedic vehicles to its existing authorization to provide reserve apparatus for maintenance and special events; the regional council recommended approval and the record was closed pending a written decision.
A hearing officer heard testimony from the West Hartford Fire Department on its application to expand authorization to operate three additional non‑transport paramedic vehicles, saying the vehicles will serve as reserve apparatus for scheduled maintenance or special events.
Hearing Officer Bridal Baum opened the public hearing and entered four exhibits into the record, including the EMS application dated Feb. 28, 2025, an affidavit by Renee Halada, a notice of hearing and a regional council recommendation dated April 3, 2025. Baum swore in department witnesses and closed the record at the end of the proceeding; his office said it will issue a memorandum of decision with next steps.
The department’s EMS officer, Lieutenant Rocco Lodato, told the hearing the West Hartford Fire Department is an ALS, fire‑based service and already operates five 24‑hour paramedic vehicles plus administrative light‑duty units. "These are reserve vehicles," Lodato said of the purchased units. "Having the ability to go into the spare apparatus in an efficient amount of time enables us to make that changeover and have a very minimal, if any, impact on the 911 system to maintain operational readiness." He said the department does not intend to change its deployment model; the spares would cover breakdowns, required repairs and scheduled maintenance and could also be used for special events.
Service Chief Greg Priest confirmed the department’s principal place of business is 50 South Main Street in West Hartford and noted licensing also lists 95 Raymond Road. Baum and Lodato reviewed application figures: the department reported 7,824 EMS calls in the 12 months before the application and projected 8,002 calls the next 12 months. Lodato estimated ALS responses would be "around, like, 6,500 or so." The department is currently authorized to operate 12 non‑transport paramedic vehicles and is seeking authorization for three more.
The department described the service area as the town of West Hartford, bounded to the north by Bloomfield, to the east by the city of Hartford, to the south by Newington and to the west by Farmington and Avon. The application lists the population to be served as 64,083 and nine primary receiving facilities: Hebrew Center for Health and Rehabilitation; Mercy Knoll Incorporated; Saint Mary Home; Autumn Lake; West Hartford Health and Rehab; Hamilton Heights; Chatfield; Hoffman Summerwood; and Brookdale. Lodato also noted the regional R2 transport provider for the area is American Medical Response.
The application included capital documentation equal to six months of operating expenses and insurance information; the regional council recommended approval on April 3, 2025. Priest and Lodato said the vehicles have already been purchased and will be staffed using current paramedic personnel when placed in service.
No formal vote was taken at the hearing. The hearing officer closed the record and adjourned, and said his office will issue a memorandum of decision with further information on the steps moving forward.
