Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointes

Privatization talk for EMS fuels public outcry

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — With her adult son, Joseph, at her side to steady her balance, senior Woods resident Jean Puleo told the City Council she has the city’s in-house paramedics to thank for saving her life.

“If we were privatized, I would not be talking to you: I would be dead,” said Puleo, noting that Woods paramedics arrived within three minutes to begin lifesaving measures, whereas an outside company would have likely taken 15 minutes to get to her home.

Puleo — who suffered a massive heart attack several years ago — was one of a couple dozen residents and workers on hand Sept. 21 to voice opposition to a rumored proposal to privatize EMS services.

While Mayor Robert Novitke told residents the city has no plans to privatize EMS, City Administrator Mark Wollenweber acknowledged that city departments have been asked to review all of their services for cost containment purposes. As part of that process, Woods Public Safety Director Michael Makowski said he was directed by administration to request bids for private ambulance companies.

“I just did what I was instructed to do,” Makowski told the council.

Wollenweber insisted, “There has been no decision to eliminate paramedics,” but the fact that the city might be looking at this at all left many with questions and concerns.

Corey L. May, president of the Fire Specialist/Paramedic/Clerk Dispatch Association, fought back tears as he talked about arriving at residents’ homes “on their worst day,” when a child has stopped breathing or a diabetic has gone into a coma.

“We are a part of this community,” May said.

In addition, May said the paramedic/fire specialist division — a staff of seven — performs a host of other duties for the city, from CPR training for employees to community programs to emergency preparedness.

Puleo — who called the paramedics “absolutely wonderful” — said she has them to thank for saving her husband’s life as well. Her son echoed her call to keep the Woods paramedics.

“We would humbly ask that you not privatize what is a gem of a service that Grosse Pointe (Woods) offers its residents right now,” Joseph Puleo said.

Judy Sheehy, a Woods resident who received a flier about the possible changes from Woods paramedics, was equally passionate about the city’s emergency personnel. An asthmatic, Sheehy said the paramedics “probably saved my life.”

“When you feel like you’re suffocating, three seconds is a long time, much less 15 minutes. … I’m very upset you would even consider privatizing this wonderful service,” she told the council. “Look for other ways to save money. Don’t take it away from people who need this service.”

Woods Sgt. Carl Schuster is not only a 32-year veteran of the department, but also a 39-year Woods resident. On most days, Schuster said the Woods has two advanced medics on duty — more than most companies. In addition, he said the department takes care of vehicle maintenance and other duties when not responding to 911 calls. And because of laws mandating a certain number of firefighters on the scene for fire runs, he said eliminating his department would leave the city short of personnel and require firefighters to wait for mutual aid to arrive, which could take at least 10 minutes or more.

“There really is a lack of understanding on the day-to-day operations of the department,” Schuster said.

Calling this an “emotionally charged” issue, Novitke assured residents that “nothing has been brought to City Council … (nor) to me … in terms of privatization.” Novitke said the council adopted a budget with a millage increase this year “to maintain services.”

“We are a service community, and that is what we are going to remain. … I never want to see this city go from being one of the safest communities in the metro area to being a relatively safe community,” Novitke said.

In 1985, Woods residents approved a special millage of .5 mills for advanced life support. Residents now pay .3578 mills for that service. John Viviano, the business agent with the police officers’ counsel, said the cost per household “is a (small) amount of money” — estimated at about $65 per household per year. Any savings that might be realized through privatization would be minor, Viviano contends.

In March, Viviano said the union asked the city for the private ambulance service provider quotes. At press time, he said they still hadn’t received those.

The union’s current contract expires June 20, 2010. New contract talks are slated to start in January, May said.