Ulster County committee backs application for municipal certificate of need to expand ambulance options

The Ulster County Legislature’s Law Enforcement & Public Safety Committee voted Feb. 5 to authorize an application for a municipal certificate of need so the county can broaden options for private ambulance contractors and support local EMS coverage. Legislator Kovacs sponsored the resolution and Director Erickson of Emergency Communications and Emergency Management spoke in favor.

Supporters say a municipal CON would give the county more flexibility to work with private ambulance services and to shore up gaps that cross town lines. “By granting that municipal certificate of need, we as a county would have more flexibility, more options with dealing with private contractors for private ambulance companies,” Legislator Kovacs said.

The resolution grew from two actions last summer: an August 2024 unanimous county resolution asking the state to issue more certificates of need in Ulster County and a follow‑up letter to the New York State Department of Health clarifying the county’s goal of reducing 911 response times. After those steps, Kovacs and Legislator Guevarais met with multiple state health department staff in Albany to discuss options, the sponsor said.

Director Erickson told the committee the county has been in talks with towns including Gardiner and Lloyd about EMS arrangements. “New Paltz Rescue has been handling about 70% of those calls themselves, but with no reimbursement,” Erickson said, describing one local partner that provides high call volume without a municipal CON to permit reimbursement. Erickson also said some towns are pursuing ambulance districts and that the City of Kingston provides its own coverage through the fire department.

Erickson described an additional operational rationale: several northern parts of the county still rely largely on basic life‑support services and a county CON could help coordinate advanced life‑support (ALS) coverage with ALS agencies. He also noted that the Town of Lloyd’s municipal CON is set to expire at the end of the year; retaining county authority could avoid a local coverage gap.

Committee members moved and adopted an amendment to the resolution and then adopted the resolution as amended by voice vote. The committee record does not capture a roll‑call tally.

Chair Hansen said she expects the subject to come up at New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) discussions. “I look forward to NYSAC and seeing if there’s…conversation about this up there,” she said.

The resolution next moves through the legislature’s formal approval process and the county will prepare an application to the state health department for a municipal CON.