Boston EMS Union: Ambulances Took Back Seat to Super`s SUV

With ambulances waiting for repairs, a top Boston EMS supervisor had a mechanic work instead on his personal SUV, the EMS union charges.

``It's ridiculous,'' said EMT union head James Orsino of ambulance fleet manager Tim Holland's Lexus repairs in late August. ``Ten percent of the (ambulances) were waiting for him to finish'' work on his car before they could be dispatched.

``This is absolutely a safety issue,'' he added.

The commission that oversees the Boston EMS unit said it looked into the matter and ``took appropriate action.''

Management sources said Holland, deputy EMS superintendent, did put his Lexus SUV on the lift in a government-owned garage, but they say Holland inspected the vehicle himself.

The EMS union has provided the Herald with photos of the Lexus up on a lift at the garage with two of its wheels off - and with at least one ambulance lined up waiting for repairs.

The Boston Public Health Commission, which oversees the Boston EMS unit, said it was ``aware of the matter.''

``The commission took the union's complaint seriously, investigated the matter and took appropriate action,'' the agency said in a statement. ``Beyond that, we do not comment on personnel matters.''

Management sources at Boston EMS said Holland, a 21-year veteran with a $82,488 salary, placed the SUV on the hydraulic lift himself to look at an unknown problem, and did not use a city mechanic to work on the car at the Roxbury garage.

``He put his own car on the lift himself and looked at it himself,'' the manager said. ``We investigated it. He didn't use a mechanic. It was dealt with.''

Union sources, however, who asked not to be named, said Holland had a mechanic place the SUV on the lift ahead of a ``front-line'' ambulance assigned to Dorchester.

Tony O'Brien, an EMT with Boston EMS who snapped photos of the Lexus on the lift, said he didn't actually see a mechanic working on Holland's SUV. But he said the back wheels were taken off the SUV for an apparent brake job - and there wasn't just a simple inspection taking place.

``I was upset when I saw (Holland's Lexus) up on a lift,'' said O'Brien, who said ambulances at Boston EMS are in constant need of repairs and are dangerous. O'Brien added that he was personally injured in an ambulance that was in need of repair.

Holland was on duty on Aug. 20 when the repair job occurred, O'Brien said.

Union officials admit they have problems with Holland, whom they describe as arrogant and a poor manager.

Contacted yesterday by the Herald, Holland would say only that the controversy was connected to a union-management flap. ``That's exactly what it is,'' he said.

But Orsino, the union chief, himself a city EMT, said the issue is about bad decisions by a supervisor.

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