Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
TCOG members debate confidential briefings after members warn of EMS coverage gaps
Summary
Members and emergency‑services representatives told TCOG they hold sensitive operational information about EMS coverage gaps and debated whether to discuss specifics in an executive session; the group agreed to schedule an executive‑session item for the September meeting to include county staff and discuss metrics and possible RMR expansion.
Mark Whitmer and other emergency‑services committee members reported on the CGR final report and urged consideration of expanded hours for the county's RMR (rapid medical response) program, including potential 24/7 coverage to improve paramedic‑level response.
A Trumansburg EMS representative (speaking as a member of the emergency services subcommittee) said the subcommittee receives operational information that is sensitive and sometimes proprietary, and that sharing detailed coverage gaps in open session risks social media exposure and could damage relationships with fire companies and providers. The representative asked the group how members wanted to receive or be briefed on such information.
Members debated whether to use an executive session or another confidential forum to surface specifics. Some members favored an executive session to lay out problems and identify measurable metrics for assessing response deficiencies; others cautioned about open‑meetings law and recommended municipal attorneys be consulted because misclassified executive sessions can be subject to legal challenge. Caitlin Olson said she would include an executive‑session item related to emergency services on the September meeting agenda and that county staff such as Mike Stitely should be present. No formal action was taken at the July meeting on funding or program expansion; members agreed to follow up in September.
