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Council moves on EMS Service Board and appointments; sets EMS coordinator pay
Summary
Across several meetings the Stanwood council appointed EMS Service Board members, set a public hearing to consider discontinuing the board, approved individual appointments, and set EMS coordinator pay at $2,000 per year.
The City Council addressed the structure and staffing of the local EMS service throughout 2020, approving appointments, scheduling hearings on whether to discontinue the EMS Service Board, and setting coordinator compensation.
At the March 9 meeting Mayor McAtee announced appointments to the EMS Service Board: Greg Wagner, Bill Klawiter, Cathy Boesenburg and Rodney VonMunster; council approved each appointment by roll call (all ayes). The council later set a public hearing for intent to discontinue the EMS Service Board for March 24 at 7 p.m.
Discussion about the board continued in the community. At a June 23 special meeting the council opened a public hearing on the pros and cons of the EMS Service Board; the public hearing ran through much of the meeting and council subsequently tabled first reading of Ordinance #236 for one year. At the July meeting Mayor McAtee clarified the council did not intend to disband EMS service itself, only to discontinue the Service Board, and the council approved appointment of Dakota Adams to the EMS Service Board (vote recorded with an abstention).
On May 18 (packet minutes) the council set EMS Coordinator pay at $2,000 per year, and minutes throughout the year show the council and clerk attempting to obtain current lists of EMTs and drivers for council approval. In November the council accepted the resignation of Council member Lacey Dennis and appointed Heather Jones to the council.
The minutes show the council used public hearings and roll-call votes to address structural and personnel aspects of EMS; several motions were recorded as passed with all ayes or with specified abstentions. The council directed staff to follow up with the EMS board on drivers and membership lists.
Next steps: The council set and later deferred ordinance action while seeking more information from the EMS board and community stakeholders; any formal discontinuation of the EMS Service Board would require further ordinance action and public notice.
