Cobleskill village officials took the first step in making the Rescue Squad independent Tuesday night.
Village trustees agreed to surrender the Certificate of Need, a move that’s necessary for the squad to separate itself from the village.
Rescue Squad volunteers made the pitch for independence in November. By going alone, they’ll be able to bill patients, have revenue for a paid staff and answer far more calls.
Although village board members agreed to give up the Certificate of Need, details remain to be worked out.
The squad has space in the firehouse and pays the village $65,000 a year in rent.
Also, the squad owns one ambulance but the village owns the other ambulance, plus equipment.
“A municipality can’t just gift it,” Mayor Becky Stanton-Terk said.
Nonetheless, Mayor Stanton-Terk was sympathetic and said board members wanted to help.
“I think we’re on a path here,” she said. “We want you to succeed.”
Deputy Mayor Howard Burt suggested the Rescue Squad pay $1 per month rent for the firehouse for a year and then “a couple thousand a year” after that until the squad finds its own quarters, another goal.
The money the squad saves on rent could go to pay for the village-owned equipment, Mr. Burt said.
Squad member Dominga Lent said volunteers are hoping “for a three-year window” to stay in the firehouse before finding a new location.
Rescue Squad Captain Mike Lent said the plan, assuming the details are worked out, is to hire paramedics and have 16-hour paramedic coverage to start.
Before voting to give up the Certificate of Need, trustees heard an impassioned plea from squad member Bob Hotaling.
He pointed out that the state will require rescue squads to answer 80 percent of their calls next year and 85 percent in 2025.
Squad volunteers in November said they probably can’t meet those marks without a paid staff.
“We’re at a crossroads,” Mr. Hotaling said. “Even though we’re considered non-essential, we are essential.
“We can be successful, but we need the Certificate of Need.”
Trustees approved the motion to surrender the Certificate of Need, with Mayor Stanton-Terk saying the two sides would work out the details.
“We will be your partners,” she said.