Going up to Rochester area for New Years for couple days. I have a BCD436HP in the car. Put in the corrected ID's today will see if any thing pops up![/For Immediate Release
Monday, November 30, 2015
BROOKS: EMS AGENCIES WILL TRANSITION TO COUNTY’S NEW TRUNKED RADIO SYSTEM
Partnership Between County and EMS Agencies Will Provide
First Responders with Access to Better & More Reliable Technology
Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks today announced that the 17 Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Agencies will transition to the County’s state-of-the-art Trunked Radio System by the end of the year under a new agreement reached between the County and the Agencies. Brooks was joined by Jim Bucci, Executive Deputy Chief of Henrietta Ambulance and Acting Chairman of the EMS Advisory Board; County Legislator Sean Delehanty; representatives from EMS Agencies from across the County; and representatives from Harris Corporation for this important announcement.
“Monroe County invested in a new public safety communications system to provide a reliable, efficient, secure, and fully integrated system for those entrusted with keeping the citizens of Monroe County safe,” said Brooks. “While these EMS Agencies have historically purchased all of their own equipment, and will continue to do so in the future, we recognize that the up-front costs of a major technological investment can be daunting. I am proud that we were able to reach an agreement that is respectful to the fiscal challenges of the County and the EMS Agencies while also upholding our longstanding spirit of collaboration.”
As a result of this partnership, the County will help the Agencies overcome the up-front cost of the significant technological investment by providing each Agency with one Harris-brand mobile radio and two Harris-brand portable radios per Ambulance; providing one Harris-brand mobile radio and one Harris-brand portable radio for all other New York State Department of Health certified Emergency Response Vehicles; and providing access to the system free of subscriber fees. In exchange, the Agencies will pay for the installation of the County provided radios; pay for all additional radios necessary for their daily operations; and pay for all future replacement equipment.
“Transitioning to the County’s trunked radio system will provide many benefits to the EMS Agencies including better communications countywide, more effective management of resources, and additional operational efficiencies including our crews personal safety as being number one,” said Bucci. “We are very excited that this agreement came together and I want to thank the County Executive for her partnership, along with her staff to make this radio project possible. I also want to thank Henrietta Ambulance Chief Reg Allen and Gates Ambulance Deputy Chief Dan DiSalvo as well as Chief Matt Jarrett and Jay Coates from Scottsville Ambulance for their role in this agreement.”
Conversations about this transition began in late 2014 when the County provided the EMS Agencies with trial equipment programmed on the trunked radio system so they could test the radios in the field. After having the opportunity to compare them to their existing equipment on the current system, the EMS Agencies collectively made this proposal to the County and negotiated it with members of the Department of Public Safety, County Executive’s Office, and the Law Department.
“As the Legislative Representative to the EMS Advisory Board, I have seen first-hand the strong desire of these EMS Agencies to transition to the County’s new Public Safety Communications System and I am excited to see this partnership become a reality,” said Delehanty, who serves as the Legislature’s liaison to the EMS Advisory Board. “Today’s announcement is a win-win-win for the County, the EMS Agencies, and the taxpayers.”
Background:
The 17 Agencies involved in this agreement are as follows: Brighton Volunteer Ambulance, Brockport Ambulance, Chili Volunteer Ambulance, Gates Volunteer Ambulance, Greece Volunteer Ambulance, Hamlin Volunteer Ambulance, Henrietta Volunteer Ambulance, Honeoye Falls-Mendon Volunteer Ambulance, Irondequoit Ambulance, Northeast Quadrant ALS Inc., Penfield Volunteer Ambulance, Perinton Volunteer Ambulance, Pittsford Volunteer Ambulance, South East Quadrant, Union Hill Volunteer Ambulance, Village of Scottsville Rescue Squad, and the Rochester Institute of Technology (which has one ambulance and provides mutual aid to surrounding EMS Agencies).
There are two for-profit Ambulance providers in Monroe County. Monroe Ambulance joined the County’s Trunked Radio System earlier this year without subsidy from the taxpayer because they are a for-profit company. Rural Metro currently operates their own Communications System and any future transition to the County's Trunked Radio System would also happen without taxpayer subsidy.
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Media Inquiries, contact:
Department of Communications at 753-1080