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Rock Hill volunteer ambulance asks Thompson to allow daytime paid crews as call volumes rise
Summary
Rock Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps requested paid two-person EMT crews from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to address increased calls and declining daytime volunteer availability; the board discussed revising the agreement to permit paid coverage.
Dr. Eric Kaplan, president of the Rock Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps, told the Town Board on April 7 that call volume has risen while daytime volunteer availability has fallen, leaving small crews that struggle to respond to calls.
Kaplan asked the board to permit paid daytime staffing — two emergency medical technicians per crew — from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. He warned that without additional coverage the Corps "might not be able to continue operating" under current staffing levels. The board discussed the request and noted the town's ambulance agreement will need revision should the board authorize paid daytime coverage; no formal motion to adopt paid staffing was taken at the meeting.
Why it matters: Ambulance staffing affects emergency response reliability across the town. Allowing paid daytime shifts would be a material change to how services are provided and funded and may require contract amendments and budget review.
What’s next: The board asked staff to draft agreement revisions and clarify funding implications before taking a vote.
