Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Medical Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
College Park council adds and approves letter urging county to retain ALS medic in city
Summary
After public testimony warning that Prince George’s County plans to remove the city’s only ALS (paramedic) unit outside daytime hours, the council added a staff directive to the consent agenda asking staff to send a letter and request data demonstrating the need for the change; the consent agenda was approved.
The College Park mayor and council voted June 9 to add and approve a staff directive asking Prince George’s County Fire/EMS to retain advanced life support (ALS) services at the city’s station and to provide the data that justified the agency’s planned staffing change.
Former council member John Rake, who identified himself as a paramedic, told the council the county intends to pull Medic 812 — the city’s only ALS unit — out of local coverage except for 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, potentially as soon as the county’s new fiscal year starts July 1. "This will leave an enormous gap in service in the city of College Park," Rake said and urged the council to "draft a letter tonight in strong opposition to making this change and protect the residents of College Park."
Council member Hernandez proposed adding the city’s letter to the consent agenda so staff could immediately convey the council’s concern and request the county’s data supporting the pilot. Hernandez said the letter should ask county officials to share the analysis behind the staffing change and to engage residents and other affected stakeholders. The motion to add the item passed and was placed on the consent agenda.
When the council voted to approve the consent agenda, which included item 26G59 directing staff to send a letter to Prince George’s County Fire/EMS and related parties, the motion carried without recorded opposition. Mayor Putam Mackey moved the consent agenda; Council member Oats seconded. Council members also asked staff to coordinate with the University of Maryland and the city’s lobbyist and to seek the county data and timetable for the change.
City staff previously briefed the council that the proposed county change would remove an ALS unit from College Park after 3 p.m. on weekdays and alter weekend coverage. The city manager said staff were already coordinating with university officials and council members to monitor the effect and to pursue advocacy.
Next steps: staff will draft the letter and transmit it under direction of the mayor and council, request the county’s data and timeline for the proposed staffing change, and report back to the council on outreach done to county and state officials and other affected jurisdictions.
