Officials finalize plans with ambulance service
RED BAY – At Monday night’s meeting of the Red Bay City Council, council members voted to amend the city’s ambulance ordinance to reflect the addition of a 90-day severance clause.
In the event there is a problem with the ambulance service in Red Bay, the amendment will allow either the city or the ambulance service provider to terminate the service agreement only after a 90-day written notice is provided to the mayor.
According to Mayor Bobby Forsythe, the council felt the need to include the severance clause amendment after the recent news that NorthStar EMS, an ambulance service provider that has operated in the city since 1997, would be terminating services at the end of December due to financial reasons.
Forsythe reached an agreement with NorthStar representatives to extend the termination date to Jan. 31 in order to allow the council more time to find a different service provider, but the process was still rushed.
“If we had already had a severance clause in place, we wouldn’t have felt so pressed for time when we were searching for a solution or a different provider,” Forsythe said.
“This amendment will provide a little more security for both parties should this issue ever come up again in the future.”
The council voted to terminate the building and lease agreement between the city and NorthStar EMS without either party incurring a penalty.
The lease would have been in affect through 2017 and needed to be terminated in order for the new ambulance service provider, Transcare, to take over at the beginning of February.
The council also voted to give Transcare one year rent free in the building in appreciation for providing services to the city without requiring a subsidy.
Transcare, an ambulance service based in Corinth, Miss., was chosen to be the city’s new EMS provider at a special called meeting on Jan. 7.
In other business, the council addressed the following issues:
• The council approved a fourth-page ad to be placed in the Franklin County Times’ Progress edition.
• The council approved the purchase of used equipment to be placed in the new fire truck for an amount of $4,505.00.
• The council approved the use of funds secured by Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow by Fire Chief Bud Strickland to purchase half-inch hose and a fold down ladder for the new truck.
• The council voted to hire Cindy Emerson as a full-time, at-will dispatcher for the Red Bay Police Department following a 90-day probation period.
• The council approved to run an ad advertising a part-time dispatcher position available with the RBPD.
• The council authorized Mayor Forsythe to handle the general fund CD bids.
• The council reviewed changes to the city employee handbook so the handbook would meet requests from Workman’s Compensation.
• The council agreed to keep Cindy Green in the position of the city’s Risk Manager.
• The council appointed councilwoman Charlene Fancher and councilman Mike Kennedy to the city’s Accident Review Board.
• Park and Recreation Director Joey Allen reminded the council that Red Bay would be hosting youth league basketball games this weekend against Belmont.
• Mayor Forsythe reminded citizens that the roadblock to raise funds for We Care Ministries would be Saturday, Jan. 29, from 8 a.m. until noon.
• Mayor Forsythe thanked the city employees for the quick and efficient way they handled the snow and ice that covered the town last week.
