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decline and that the Board is letting politics take over the system. Paramedics do not want to be <br />firefighters, she asked that they be given a choice and be allowed to continue to be paramedics. <br />Charlene Jarvis <br />, Vero Beach, as a volunteer at IRMH could not imagine how the <br />Board could consider that fire and paramedics be combined. Heaven help us when we get sick. <br />th <br />Joel Molinari <br />, 1025 54 Avenue, spoke as a taxpayer. He asked to see the real <br />dollar comparison because to him it did not look like a merger will create a cost savings. He <br />believed that both systems work and ours works the way it is. He thought dual certification is <br />asking a lot of most people and he did not think we would see a better level of service by <br />combining the two. Also, he noted that peoples’ lives and property are at stake in this issue and he <br />wanted the best care possible. He reminded them that government exists for the welfare of the <br />people. There is more at stake than politics. <br />County Administrator Baird pointed out that impact fees are only for capital, usually <br />for new stations, not for operating costs. Staff does not believe for the first few years that there <br />will be initial savings, but the County will save by opening new stations with 14 not 17 personnel. <br />He gave assurance that everyone who arrives at an emergency scene would be trained and would <br />be able to start treatment immediately. <br />Commissioner Davis wanted to make certain that because we are dealing with <br />families and not just a labor contract that everybody has had input in this. He stressed that there <br />will be an opportunity for those who cannot or will not be cross-trained that they will still have <br />their role once this consolidation plan is implemented. He also does not want to have hostile <br />working environments. <br />Lt. Gilroy <br /> urged that paramedics have an active role in determining whether the two <br />systems be merged and pushed for answers to questions concerning future hiring criteria for <br />non-dually trained applicants. <br />County Administrator Baird specified that there would be a transition plan. <br />Decisions on future hiring will be management decisions; there would be an attrition plan, there <br />would be a place for employees both on the fire and paramedic side. <br />September 13, 2005 38 <br /> <br />