Jefferson County rejects $499,997 NYSDOH EMS support grant after committee concerns
February 01, 2026 | Jefferson County, New York
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The Jefferson County Board of Legislators on Feb. 3 voted down a proposal to accept a $499,997 New York State Department of Health Emergency Medical Services Support Grant and amend the county budget to implement ALS intercept and bariatric emergency response capabilities.
Legislator Frances A. Calarco introduced the resolution to use the grant to strengthen EMS systems by establishing an Advanced Life Support intercept and specialty response program based at Samaritan Medical Center, expand bariatric response teams geographically across local ambulance providers, and to facilitate application of a countywide Certificate of Need so agencies could bill for ALS intercepts and mutual aid responses. The grant period specified in the resolution ran from July 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026.
Clerk Ryan Piche noted the resolution had received a negative recommendation from the Health & Human Services Committee. Legislator Robert D. Ferris said, after talking with town supervisors and ambulance providers in his district, he planned to vote no. Legislator Robert W. Cantwell, III said he did not want the county to enter ambulance service delivery and expressed concern that pulling paramedics into county‑led programs could strain an already limited paramedic pool.
On roll call the resolution failed: Ayes — Karen J. Freeman, Tina M. Bartlett‑Bearup, Jareo, Michael A. Montigelli and Chairman Johnson (5); Nays — Corey Y. Grant, Anthony J. Doldo, Nabywaniec, Frances A. Calarco, Steel E. Potter, Robert D. Ferris, Daniel R. McBride and Robert W. Cantwell, III (8); Absent — Boulio and Reed. The resolution was defeated and will not be implemented as proposed.
The transcript records the committee negative recommendation and the stated operational and workforce concerns by members as the primary reasons for defeat; no alternate plan was adopted at the meeting. The defeat means the county will not proceed with the grant‑funded ALS intercept or the county‑level implementation steps described in the resolution unless reintroduced or modified at a future meeting.
Legislator Frances A. Calarco introduced the resolution to use the grant to strengthen EMS systems by establishing an Advanced Life Support intercept and specialty response program based at Samaritan Medical Center, expand bariatric response teams geographically across local ambulance providers, and to facilitate application of a countywide Certificate of Need so agencies could bill for ALS intercepts and mutual aid responses. The grant period specified in the resolution ran from July 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026.
Clerk Ryan Piche noted the resolution had received a negative recommendation from the Health & Human Services Committee. Legislator Robert D. Ferris said, after talking with town supervisors and ambulance providers in his district, he planned to vote no. Legislator Robert W. Cantwell, III said he did not want the county to enter ambulance service delivery and expressed concern that pulling paramedics into county‑led programs could strain an already limited paramedic pool.
On roll call the resolution failed: Ayes — Karen J. Freeman, Tina M. Bartlett‑Bearup, Jareo, Michael A. Montigelli and Chairman Johnson (5); Nays — Corey Y. Grant, Anthony J. Doldo, Nabywaniec, Frances A. Calarco, Steel E. Potter, Robert D. Ferris, Daniel R. McBride and Robert W. Cantwell, III (8); Absent — Boulio and Reed. The resolution was defeated and will not be implemented as proposed.
The transcript records the committee negative recommendation and the stated operational and workforce concerns by members as the primary reasons for defeat; no alternate plan was adopted at the meeting. The defeat means the county will not proceed with the grant‑funded ALS intercept or the county‑level implementation steps described in the resolution unless reintroduced or modified at a future meeting.
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