Belpre City Council amends EMS lease in special meeting
Belpre Law Director Tom Webster, right, speaks during Monday’s special meeting at the city building as Councilman Dave Ferguson listens. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Belpre City Councilman Paul Wallace discusses a concern he has with a lease with the nonprofit entity set to provide EMS services in the city during a special meeting Monday at the city building. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Belpre City Council President Larry Martin, fourth from right, asks if there are any comments or questions on an item during a special meeting Monday at the city building. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Belpre Law Director Tom Webster, right, speaks during Monday’s special meeting at the city building as Councilman Dave Ferguson listens. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Belpre City Councilman Paul Wallace discusses a concern he has with a lease with the nonprofit entity set to provide EMS services in the city during a special meeting Monday at the city building. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Belpre City Council President Larry Martin, fourth from right, asks if there are any comments or questions on an item during a special meeting Monday at the city building. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Trending
BELPRE -- Belpre City Council on Monday approved an amended lease with the nonprofit City of Belpre EMS Inc., but that group's board will have to meet at least one more time to finalize the arrangement.
Council unanimously passed the updated lease during a special meeting Monday evening at the city building after a 4-3 vote to amend it to require the newly formed entity to commit more money to repairs. That means it must go before the City of Belpre EMS board again, after they met and approved the previous agreement Monday.
Jeff Greenley, the Belrpe City Schools superintendent and chairman of the City of Belpre EMS board, said they would meet soon. City officials said if they did not approve the agreement it would come back before council.
The nonprofit will be leasing the city's two ambulances for $1 a year each and taking over emergency medical services after the city suspended its contract with Belpre Volunteer Fire Department Inc. in January over reporting issues.
Councilmen Paul Wallace and Steve Null took issue with a lease provision stating the nonprofit would pay for repairs up to $1,000, with those greater than that amount the responsibility of the city.
"That puts too much on our citizens," Wallace said. "I honestly don't think a thousand is fair. I could probably live with 5,000."
Wallace's motion passed 4-3, with Councilwoman Susan Abdella, Councilmen Dave Ferguson and Alan Milhone opposed.
"I think it's very generous," Null said. "I would amend a lot higher. But I would agree with that (amount)."
Council unanimously voted to suspend the rules and conduct the second and third readings Monday. The subsequent readings also passed, 7-0.
The only other item on the agenda was a resolution authorizing Wallace and Safety-Service Director Connie Hoblitzell to represent the city at an auction on Saturday. It also passed unanimously, with the rules suspended to allow for multiple readings Monday.
Belpre resident Jesse Wonycott asked if the auction would use funds requested by Police Chief Michael Stump to upgrade wiring and information technology systems at the city building. Council President Larry Martin said the Finance Committee had not yet met to determine how much would be allocated for that purpose.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.