BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- Could the Massena Rescue Squad and career firefighters eventually merge into a single department?

That's an idea that the village of Massena Deputy Mayor Chad Simpson said is a possibility in the future.

During budget sessions last month, trustees weighed in on the future of the departments, acknowledging that changes would be necessary in the future to maintain servicing for the village and surrounding area, while keeping expenses as low as possible to taxpayers.

Simpson said that some discussions have been held between the departments about just what that would mean for operations, as well as taxpayers.

"Our goal would be to have all of our services in one facility in the future," Simpson said.

Mayor Greg Paquin agreed, saying it was something that would take years of planning to implement but would benefit first responders and residents alike.  

The discussion came as trustees weighed options for the code enforcement office moving forward.

Currently, career fire staff also carry out code enforcement duties but with career staff also training to be EMTs, career staff is being stretched thin.

Trustee Ken McGowan commented on the trend, saying it has been that way for the last 10 to 15 years.

McGowan also spoke to recruiting trends for firefighters, saying that career fire fighters are generally required to also become EMTs as part of their recruitment.

"It's pretty much a requirement for anybody that hits the standard of having to go to the fire academy. Back in the 70's, those guys were paramedics in the mid-size cities. So, in reality we're about 50 years behind and playing catchup," he said.

Fire Foreman Aaron Hardy said that was in fact the case for the majority of recruits attending the academy, saying bigger departments have required that for years.

"I'm sure some people don't want to be medics but that's just the way it's gone," McGowan continued.

The idea of combining all emergency service departments under one roof is one that has come up periodically in years prior, officials say.

McGowan said that officials need to take a serious look at it as expenses continue to rise across the board for each department.

"There might be a day where the ambulance needs to be parked over there (at the fire station)," McGowan said.

"I would love to see as much fire and rescue combined as much as we can instead of two separate buildings," he said.

McGowan acknowledged the limitations, saying a new facility would be needed to combine the entirety of the departments but said that firefighters who may be working as EMTs would need quicker access to an ambulance in some cases.

That prospect has been complicated recently, after one of the rescue squad's four ambulances was taken off the road.

Paquin said the unit will be out of commission for some time after the engine is seized and will require a full replacement. That repair bill will be in the neighborhood of $25,000, he said.

Concerns about the rescue squad are nothing new for the village, as trustees raised concerns about write-offs of debt and inability to collect proper reimbursement due to forms not being filled out correctly each time.

Village officials say E5 professional staff have not always filled out reports properly, likely due to a checkbox being missed.

"It might be a box being missed or something. I don't want to stop here but I did have a conversation about this earlier. I know back in the day it was all paper. Now it's all digital and there has to be someone to review it," McGowan said.

Hardy said there is a volunteer to double check everything but more than anything it comes back to individuals not being willing to sign the form.

"If they respond, we'll see people refuse to pay...there's nothing we can do. You can't physically make someone sign a piece of paper. They come out of their Narcan and they're feisty. There's nothing you can do," Hardy said.

While some forms may not be filled out entirely or a checkbox may be missed, village officials say the HIPPA form may also pose an issue with getting proper reimbursement.

"If you stop and take vitals and don't transport...there's really nothing there," McGowan said.

He went on further, saying if the village is paying for a service like E5 to staff the rescue squad during daytime hours, further oversight might be needed.

"I get if it's just a checkbox and I get the fix wouldn't just be the agency that we're paying to do the job. Maybe someone came and helped out with that right, honest mistake. But if you're paying an agency and it's continually an issue, that needs to be discussed," McGowan said.

Further training and communication might be necessary to ensure property reimbursement is received.

"I know that they're trying to stay on top of that but if it's an issue, it really need to be addressed," McGowan said.