The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Letter To The Editor – Sabotage In The Grafton Rescue Squad?

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To The Editor:
I would like to know why the Grafton Rescue Squad appears to be being sabotaged from within its own ranks? Inner bickering has been going on for a long time, but things have escalated to deplorable conditions. I have a good friend who has been on the squad for a number of years, is an RN and a certified EMT. A certified letter was received by her on the 9th of September 2010 stating that she was suspended from the Squad for an indefinite time and was not to answer any calls that came in until the suspension was lifted.  This letter was not on Squad letterhead stationery and did not contain a reason for said suspension. Is this a reasonable way to handle a problem?  And why is it okay for an ex-EMT to rejoin the Squad in order for the Town to pay for her to become re-certified as an EMT and boast at the Practical Challenge that she had a new job that she would be starting and that it was with the Albany County Sheriff’s Department. To work with that department, a requirement is that your residence needs to be in Albany County, and she has said that she will be moving to that County. This is not the first time that the Town has been duped.  Several have used the Town to pay for a needed course and then up and moved away.
Town of Grafton residents need to stand up and be heard at the Town Meeting, held on the second Thursday of every month.  At the rate things are going, we will soon to without a viable EMS service and will be sorely paying the outside agency that will have to come in and provide the needed services at a hefty tariff, which is not the custom at present.  It is a sad state of affairs.  Grafton residents, UNITE and come to the meeting, Thursday, October 14, and show your support for the EMT that is being so poorly treated.
My little knowledge of by-laws and such tell me that an organization has 10 days to take action from receipt of a suspension or reprimand.  As of 27 September, no word has been heard by the suspended EMT.
Suzanne Golden
NY 2, Grafton