Ordinance proposes creation of local EMS advisory board
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

JACKSON - The Township Council has introduced an ordinance that would, if adopted, create the Jackson Township Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board.

A second reading, public hearing and possible vote for adoption of the ordinance are scheduled to be held at the council's March 11 meeting.

"The whole purpose of the advisory board is to be proactive in its approach to emergency medical services," Councilman Scott Martin said. "We don't want to find out six months down the road there's been a problem with response times. We want to know right away. We want to know what happened and we want to know what we can do to fix it.

"Being involved in the original emergency medical services (EMS) subcommittee, it was determined that we needed that greater oversight," Martin said. "By amending our administrative code to include the advisory board, it shows that we are taking that affirmative action."

The advisory board would assist and advise the mayor and council in monitoring and evaluating emergency medical services that are provided to the residents of Jackson. The board would also review the performance of the municipality's EMS provider, reviewing reports and response times of the EMS provider.

According to the ordinance, the advisory board will periodically provide reports to the mayor and the council and will provide recommendations for improving emergency medical services.

The members of the advisory board will be appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council. There will be one member selected from the Jackson Police Department, one member from the Jackson Volunteer First Aid Squad, one member from the Township Council and two residents.

Each member of the advisory board will serve for a one-year term beginning each Jan. 1 or until a qualified and appointed successor is selected. The chairman of the board will be selected by a majority of the board membership.