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Dobbs Ferry trustees weigh legal limits, merger as volunteer ambulance service faces insolvency
Summary
Dobbs Ferry Volunteer Ambulance Corps told trustees it is "weakened and in severe financial distress" and will pursue a merger with Irvington; trustees and legal counsel said state law prevents ongoing direct municipal payments to an independent VAC and discussed creating a new joint entity to allow lawful municipal support.
Joe Rooney, president of the Dobbs Ferry Volunteer Ambulance Corps, told the Village Board on Sept. 9 that the agency has been "weakened and in severe financial distress," recounted prior village assurances (including payment for a used ambulance) and said the village cut off funding in June "citing that payments to us and our services were illegal." Rooney said the corps will complete merger discussions with the Irvington Volunteer Ambulance Corps but protested that a merger "is not in the best interest of the residents."
Trustees and village counsel responded that elected officials value the volunteers' service but are constrained by New York law. Laura Lee (village counsel) told the board that "it…
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