Town Board Votes To Pay Its Share For Ambulance Service
by Doug La Rocque
For several months now the Grafton Rescue Squad has been providing ambulance service to the Town of Berlin. The Grafton Squad having acquired Berlin’s Certificate of Need when the Berlin Fire Company surrendered it. At its meeting on Thursday, September 10, the board voted to give the Grafton Rescue Squad $8,000 to cover its expenses for the rest of the year.
In the meantime, work continues on forming a daytime ambulance squad to serve the towns of Berlin, Petersburgh and Grafton, Monday through Friday from 6 am to 6 pm. This paid service would be under the auspices of and coordinated by the Grafton Rescue Squad. According to Grafton Captain, Joe Allain, they ideally would like to find a place to house the ambulance near Petersburgh (the midway point) during these hours.
Negotiations between the three towns over cost and some logistics have slowed the process, but according to Berlin Supervisor Rob Jaeger, it would be best if the paid service were to start on January 1 of 2021, as all three towns would then be able to apply for a 75% rebate of the costs under New York State’s shared services program.
Joining Up
According to Supervisor Jaeger, himself and two other Berlin residents have applied for and been accepted into the Grafton Rescue Squad. The supervisor is also a member of the Petersburgh Ambulance Corp. He says this gives them some flexibility in responding to calls, as a driver or EMT might be able to meet an ambulance from Grafton or Petersburgh at a Berlin scene, and together form a Basic Life Support Crew.
Watching The Water
The Board is looking into installing water meters on high volume users as a way of making sure they pay their fair share of Water District 2’s costs. Currently the district bills residents on an inventory of sinks, toilets, etc in their home or business. When the new Stewart’s Shop opened, they became the first business in town to be placed on a metered usage, and the board members are looking to extend that to some other business as well.
The board is also looking into new water piping up Plank Road, particularly to the homes located higher in elevation then the new water tank currently under construction. A pressure booster is most likely needed. The Board also decided not to replace the 2 inch piping currently being used by the Berlin School District.