Resident raises 25-minute ambulance delay; town to review 911-to-arrival process

During the public-comment period, a resident described an Oct. 2 emergency in which police arrived quickly but paramedics from Holy Name took about 25 minutes to reach the scene. The council and mayor pledged to review the 911 dispatch and response process and to meet with the family.

Angela Macri, who identified herself as living on Horizon Court, told the council that police arrived within seven minutes after she found her 3-year-old unresponsive and that the paramedics arrived about 25 minutes later. "They did a great job. They did everything they could," Macri said of police, but she added, "the paramedics took 25 minutes to get there."

Mayor Peter Calamari and other officials said the police chief was in contact with the family and was preparing a comprehensive review of the process from call receipt to arrival. Calamari told the council staff expected to have information next week and offered to meet with the family and other interested officials.

Council members asked whether the results of that review could be shared with the public at a future council meeting. The mayor said staff would determine whether and when it would be appropriate to report back to the full council and public.

The Macri family said that Holy Name paramedics and ambulance personnel responded together and that no volunteer ambulance unit from neighboring towns responded in that instance. Council members and staff said they would examine volunteer coverage, county ambulance arrangements and regional hospital ambulance resources as part of the review.

No formal action or vote occurred; council members directed staff and the police department to complete a report and to schedule a meeting with the family and interested council members.