TOWN OF CLINTON MOOCHES OFF STERLING TAXPAYERS–APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD (1/3) OF STERLING AMBULANCE RUNS ARE FOR CLINTON RESIDENTS

Reliable sources report that approximately one-third (1/3) of Sterling Fire Department ambulance runs are for Clinton residents because the Sterling Fire Department has Paramedics whereas the Clinton Fire Department’s unionized lesser-qualified EMT semi-lay-abouts declined to get Paramedic certification despite being told to do so by the Clinton Select Board. Paramedics can administer medications and perform certain invasive procedures whereas lesser-qualified EMTs cannot. SEE https://www.ems1.com/ems-products/education/articles/what-do-paramedics-do-av5C8MG7jiwB4VpC/ So for more serious Clinton accidents, injuries, and acute medical conditions Sterling Paramedics are making the runs.

So-called ‘Mutual Aid,’ on occasion, is one thing, but having our Sterling Fire Department personnel, vehicles, and medical equipment exploited and tied up in Clinton consistently because we have saps on the Select Board is quite another.

Here are some pertinent questions: How long has this been going on? Why has this practice never been divulged to Sterling taxpayers at a Town Meeting or in any other forum? Has the Sterling Fire Department hired additional people in order to cover all those runs to Clinton? If so, how many and who are they? Do the Sterling Fire Department personnel take Clinton victims/patients only to Clinton Hospital or do they take Clinton victims/patients to Worcester hospitals also? Which Sterling Fire Department vehicles make the runs to Clinton? In terms of total accrued mileage/wear-and-tear on those vehicles, what percentage is attributable to the Clinton runs? Does the Sterling Fire Department bill a higher amount for the Clinton runs than it does for Sterling runs? What percentage of Clinton victims/patients are non-payers to the Sterling Fire Department (deadbeats)?

The Sterling Select Board owes us the answers.

J.G.