Verona Council Gives Guardian Angel Ambulance Another Chance

After months of considering a switch in ambulance services, Verona Council decided to stick with the one it has.

On Tuesday, officials agreed to give Guardian Angel Ambulance another shot, pending that officials receive monthly reports from the company.

Discussion began a few months ago, after officials began to address criticism about the company's response time. Staff from Guardian Angel and Lower Valley Emergency Medical Services gave presentations to council over the last month.

After hearing both presentations, many of the council members and borough officials said they were satisfied with Guardian Angel's explanation.

Council President Dom Conte said he spoke with Mayor Dave Ricupero and police Chief Ron McLemore, who agreed that service to the borough has improved within the last few weeks.

"We should go with what we have and review the situation in six months," he said.

Ricupero agreed, saying the company's service has gotten better within the last six weeks, and staff knows borough officials are serious about making sure that continues.

"They are making the effort to improve," he said.

Councilwoman Rhoda Gemellas-Worf requested that a monthly report with response times be submitted for council to review. Officials received their first copy at Tuesday's meeting. The monthly reports also will be available to residents at the borough building, according to council.

Though she agreed to give Guardian Angel another chance, Councilwoman Sandra Drabicki-Bell said she still wasn't sure about the ambulance service, adding that many residents in the borough have told her they don't want Guardian to respond if they have an emergency.

In the meantime, Kier Ewing, Verona resident and chamber of commerce member, suggested that council research Guardian Angel and Lower Valley, given that both companies are extremely different—Lower Valley covers several communities (including Oakmont) and only provides emergency response, while Guardian Angel provides emergency response to only Verona and provides non-emergency transportation for hospital patients elsewhere.

Resident Don Worf also suggested council look into whether it's worth it to even have a preferred ambulance service given that other communities, such as Oakmont, don't have a designated service provider.

If officials do choose to continue with a preferred service, they should do what they can to help residents subscribe to that service, Worf said.

"Let's up the subscribers so we can get the money needed to get two ambulances stationed here in Verona," he said.

_______________________

Plum-Oakmont Patch is on Facebook and on Twitter. Don't forget to sign up for our daily email newsletter by clicking here.