By William J. Kemble
Daily Freeman
HURLEY, N.Y. 鈥� Town Board members expect to start with $450,000 for a townwide ambulance district and the operations of a basic life support system.
The update was provided Tuesday during a public hearing that attracted 10 speakers from an audience of about 40 people.
鈥淭his is for a paid ambulance service,鈥� Councilwoman Debbie Dougherty said.
鈥淩ight now, we are all supported by volunteers,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n this day and age, it鈥檚 harder and harder for people to have the time 鈥� and there鈥檚 just as many, if not more, calls coming out.鈥�
Support for the district has included representatives from both current basic life support squads with the Hurley and West Hurley fire companies.
鈥淭he fire districts are going to sell (or) give those ambulances to the town,鈥� Dougherty said. 鈥淪o, we鈥檙e going to start with 鈥� two fully stocked ambulances, which is a huge advantage for us.鈥�
Resident Bill Tweeddale said the town should consider participating in agreements with other municipalities for services.
鈥淲e need emergency medical services but I don鈥檛 think the town of Hurley has enough volume to justify a private ambulance service,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 would like to see the town engage with 鈥� various municipalities (that are) close by.鈥�
An Ulster County report earlier this year reported that in 2022 the Hurley Fire Department was available for 155 of 236 calls and West Hurley Fire Department was available for 188 of 273 calls.
Hurley officials have been in discussions with the towns of Ulster, Rosendale, and Kingston for joint advanced life support coverage. Officials have not moved forward in how that service would work with existing basic life support systems.
Some speakers were concerned about the location of an ambulance station if the town enters an agreement for joint service.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want an ambulance based in Ulster,鈥� resident Bob Longendyke said. 鈥淚 want an ambulance based in Hurley. I鈥檝e called (an) ambulance for myself, I鈥檝e called it for my family members, and Hurley has always turned out for us.鈥�
Hurley Fire Department Chief Joseph Decker said establishing a townwide district is necessary.
鈥淭his has been an ongoing issue for quite a few years,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been limping along, trying to kick that can down the road a little bit. 鈥� We were having the same issues back 30 years ago getting a paid service into Hurley to go and support our fire department.鈥�
Board members set an Oct. 8 deadline for written comments, accepted at the Town Clerk鈥檚 Office in the Town Hall , 10 Wamsley Place ; mailed to the Town Clerk at P.O. Box 569, Hurley, NY 12443; or emailed to clerk@townofhurley.org.
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