Berlin Based Ambulance Is Now In Service
by Doug La Rocque
Since last June, calls for medical assistance in the Town of Berlin have been the responsibility of the Grafton Rescue Squad, who picked up the Certificate of Need (CON) when the Berlin Fire Company shut down their ambulance and surrendered its CON. It hasn’t been easy since then, particularly in the daytime, when volunteers are scarce. That is a problem experienced all around the county, and indeed, the Capital Region. It was also the impetus for the proposal to form a Tri-Town Ambulance with a paid daytime crew to cover Berlin, Petersburgh and Grafton. That, however, has yet to get off the ground.
Eastwick Press file photo.
Late last year, the Town of Berlin purchased a used ambulance, and has been working to refurbish it and have it placed in service, as part of the Grafton Rescue Squad fleet. On Friday, January 15, Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger was informed it had received the approval from the New York State Department of Health, and it was ready to roll.
On Monday, January 18, it replaced the ambulance based in Grafton for a day so it could be serviced. Shortly later, it rolled on a call for the first time in Grafton. On Wednesday, now back in its home at the Berlin Municipal Complex, it responded to a call on Plank Road. Bottom line, when there is an EMS call in Berlin, and as long as a crew is able to respond, the Berlin based ambulance, labeled as 5114 by the county, will now handle calls in Berlin so patients most times will no longer have to wait on an ambulance out of Grafton. It also adds another component to EMS mutual aid, possibly for Petersburgh or Stephentown.
Town Board Meeting
News that the Berlin based ambulance was about to be placed in service was part of the Thursday, January 14 Town Board meeting. The board also held its organizational gathering that night, with Stanley Pettibone named the new Chair of the Board of Assessors. All other pertinent appointments remain the same, including council member Dean Maxon being re-appointed as Deputy Supervisor, Alan Yerton as Building Inspector/Codes Enforcement Officer, Pamula Gerstel as Planning Board Chair, Nick Adams as Chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Doug Goodermote as Dog Control Officer and Bud Hall as Transfer Station Supervisor.
Petersburgh Residents Are Still Welcome
Speaking of the Transfer Station, as has been reported, there is no longer a contract between the Town of Berlin and the Town of Petersburgh for use of the Transfer Station. The Berlin Board said at its December meeting, it would still honor the permits purchased by Petersburgh residents that were good until April 30, but that they would have to purchase dump tickets from Berlin. At this board meeting, the members decided they would continue to sell permits to any Petersburgh resident or land owner after April 30, with the provision that dump tickets must still be purchased in Berlin. Meanwhile, Petersburgh is looking into starting its own recycling location.
The board next meets in a workshop session on January 28.