Francis Smith: YES to Fire Levy – YES to Jarman

1. Both the EMS and FIRE boards recommended and approved the merger.
2. A large number of EMT’s have already migrated to FIRE because of dissatisfaction with the way that EMS has been managed.
3. Most EMS services in the USA are FIRE-based. The Seattle FIRE department – one of the founding medical response departments, has a fire crew response to most medical 911 calls. No invention is required here.
4. If the VILLAGE purchase is approved, the current PHD (EMS board) will be fully occupied with this enormous undertaking.
5. This is not the time to switch FIRE commissioners from an experienced incumbent to a newcomer who is basically a rookie EMT with little experience in the field. The FIRE organization has a Chief who is a paramedic and at least one board member with extensive experience running a large FIRE/EMS department.
6. This levy is NOT a new tax as it will replace the current EMS levy. In fact, by integrating, costs will be reduced.

This is an obvious choice.

Francis Smith
Fire Captain/Sr. EMT, Retired