Coventry council adopts ordinance allowing fire, EMS cost recovery

The Coventry Town Council voted to adopt an ordinance that establishes a framework for charging users for certain fire and emergency medical services. Councilors said the change is intended to recoup costs from people who use emergency services instead of shifting the entire expense to property taxpayers.

The ordinance was read into the record as Resolution 20 26 12 adopting Ordinance No. 269, which inserts section 42-2 into the town code to create an emergency-response cost-recovery authority and fee structure. Council discussion emphasized that the policy mirrors longstanding ambulance billing practices: payments will ultimately be the responsibility of the person or property that received the service, and hardship and waiver procedures will be available.

"This marries up the costs of the services with the people utilizing the services," a councilor said in explaining support for the ordinance, adding that insurance companies will often be the entity that pays a claim. Another councilor praised Fire Chief Myers for repeatedly researching and revising the proposal. Opponents warned the fees could unfairly affect residents with limited insurance coverage and said some specific fees (for example, certain water-rescue charges) deserved closer review.

Council members voted on the motion after comments from a member of the public who spoke in favor during the public hearing. The council recorded votes in favor from Councilors Hand, Gallagher, Thomas and Larson, and oppositions from Councilors Blanchard and Wheaton. The motion carried and the ordinance was adopted; the town will follow up with a fee schedule by separate resolution.

Officials emphasized that the town will bill the recipient and not directly bill insurers, and that established procedures for assessing and, where appropriate, reducing or waiving fees will be used, similar to ambulance billing.