Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ems Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council members press for answers on ambulance coverage and EMS oversight
Summary
Councilmembers and public commenters pressed city officials for clearer information about ambulance coverage in Scranton, questioned charter responsibilities and requested meetings with EMS stakeholders and consultants to outline a defined plan.
Councilmembers used the April 28 meeting to press the administration for clearer, written answers about how ambulance services are provided in Scranton and whether the city is meeting its charter responsibilities for emergency medical services.
"If you called me at any given time and asked me how many ambulances are currently on duty in the city, I couldn't tell you," Councilmember Sean McAndrew said, urging the mayor and administration to provide written documentation and to meet with stakeholders, including Fitch and Associates, the consultant mentioned in council correspondence. He said the lack of a reliable, recorded count of on‑duty ambulances undermines accountability and asked that the council be given a timeline and plan for a dedicated service if one is to be pursued.
Councilmembers discussed meeting with the chief judge to get an official briefing and requested that responses from the administration be put in writing. Councilmember Mark McKenzie supported holding a caucus meeting so that all council members could hear the same information at once; he said previous discussions about dedicated ambulance services had taken place but that a transparent, citywide approach was needed.
No formal vote or directive adopting a specific EMS provider or plan was taken at the meeting. Councilmembers requested follow‑up briefings, written responses from administration staff, and coordination with outside consultants and emergency‑service officials.
