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Residents press Belmar officials for answers as EMS partners withdraw and costs loom
Summary
Residents at Belmar Borough Council raised urgent concerns after partner towns reportedly withdrew from a shared EMS arrangement, citing an approximate $116,700 monthly cost and urging clearer plans; borough officials said negotiations are ongoing and pledged an update soon.
Residents pressed Belmar leaders during public comment about an uncertain emergency medical services (EMS) arrangement that, they said, has left the borough exposed to substantial unbudgeted costs.
Kevin (resident) said partner municipalities had stopped participating in the shared EMS contract and that the service carries an "approximate cost of $116,700 per month," with two partners previously covering about half of that expense. "That's an enormous unbudgeted expense to the budget," he told the council, and asked whether officials had kept the council fully informed of the risk.
Mayor Becca Fusco disputed some specifics cited by residents. "Your sources are incorrect," the mayor said in response to questions about prior conversations with the county, and added that borough officials have been "working on this for weeks." Administrator Kane also said staff are negotiating with potential partners and that the borough is not free to disclose all details while discussions are active.
Multiple residents urged faster action and greater transparency. Joe Manion and others told the council they had known of partner withdrawal "for months" and said waiting until the start of the year without a public plan places the borough at financial risk. "You had months to deal with this," one commenter said.
Council members described three options currently on the table: continue with another private partner being negotiated now, pursue talks with the county, or seek a shared-services arrangement. One council member said the borough expects to have an update "by the end of the week." Mayor Fusco said the town will secure EMS service it "could afford and give to the residents," and emphasized officialsare pursuing alternatives that preserve response quality.
The exchange also put recent changes in local EMS organization into context: speakers recalled a former volunteer first-aid squad and said transition to paid or contracted services has altered costs and local control. Other commenters referenced long-standing town expenses, including a separate past remediation project that carried multiyear costs.
What happens next: officials said they will continue negotiations and brief the council; one council member said the borough would reach out to county officials in the new year to explore options. No formal action or vote on EMS procurement was recorded at the meeting.
Note on figures and status: the $116,700 monthly figure and partner share were asserted by a resident during public comment; borough officials characterized some reported timelines and claims as inaccurate and said negotiations remain confidential until finalized.
