Mich. EMS Shifts to Private Company, Jobs Lost

Feb. 15--Emergency medical services will shift from the Taylor Fire Department to a private company on Friday.

As a result, 17 firefighters were notified Tuesday that they'll be out of a job Friday morning when HealthLink takes over the services.

The move is being made out of financial necessity, said Taylor Mayor Jeffrey Lamarand. The shift is expected to save about $1 million to $2 million annually in coming years, he said.

"The city is running out of money, and we have run out of time," Lamarand said in a statement. "The decision had to be made for the city's financial well-being."

Lamarand estimated that at least 85% of the fire department's 8,000 annual calls are for medical emergencies. Firefighters still will respond to fires and accidents.

The city and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1252, which represents Taylor firefighters, are negotiating a contract and have been unable to come to an agreement.

The mayor said employee retiree costs increasingly are consuming general fund revenues, and drastic changes have to be made.

Stan Pochron, president of Local 1252, said the union has offered concessions in pensions, health care and salaries. "It's a very disappointing time at the Taylor Fire Department right now," he said.

The previous contract expired June 30, 2011, but contains a clause requiring it to be followed until a new contract is ratified, Lamarand said.

The contract states the city needs to maintain a minimum of 53 firefighters to transport people by ambulance, but layoffs dropped that number to 41. The number is down from 61 firefighters when Lamarand took office in 2009.

After Friday, there will be 24 firefighters -- three of those administrative positions, Fire Chief Bob Tompos said.

Tompos is concerned that the department's ability to effectively fight fires will be diminished by staffing. Instead of going inside structures to battle fires, firefighters may have to stay outside and pour water on flames, he said.

In the department's new role, firefighters won't handle transport, but will back up the private company if they have a delayed response.

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