Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ethics Ems topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioner discloses possible conflict tied to EMS proposal, cites Chief Joyce’s call-volume figures
Summary
A Collingswood commissioner disclosed a potential conflict of interest related to a resolution involving an EMS proposal, stating the borough attorney indicated there 'could be a conflict' though the commissioner said they disagreed and would vote; the commissioner quoted a June 20 proposal saying the department responds to about 4,000 calls annually compared with roughly 1,500 in similar towns.
A Collingswood commissioner publicly disclosed a potential conflict of interest before the commission opened public comment on resolutions and cited a written cost proposal about establishing an EMS division.
The commissioner said the borough attorney advised there "could be a conflict of interest" but that the commissioner "respectfully disagree[d]" with that assessment and would vote on the matter. The commissioner also disclosed a personal connection: "My husband works for Virtua. He's a physician." The speaker asked that the disclosure be placed on the record for transparency.
Quoting from Chief Joyce’s June 20 cost proposal, the commissioner said, "We respond to 4,000 calls EMS and fire in one year. On average other fire departments in our region respond to approximately 1500 calls per year with similar staffing levels." The commissioner used those figures to explain the rationale behind considering a separate EMS division and noted that current firefighter-EMTs perform dual duties.
The transcript records the disclosure and the quoted proposal figures but does not show a subsequent vote or decision on establishing an EMS division at this meeting. No additional detail on the three proposal options, implementation costs, or a timeline for a formal vote was recorded in the transcript; staff and the chief were referenced as the sources of the proposal.
