Public Money VS The Ambulance Fund

“Dayton's opinion is more important than the library? Here are a few 

things that are seemingly more important because while John is

closing libraries he is seemingly okay with money the Fire Dept 

spends on

Ladies Polo Shirts

Brass poles that go nowhere

Ladies Fleece jackets

Food

Beer

Propane gas”

It seems that Mr. DeAngelis is having a hard time understanding the difference between public money (taxpayer money) and MVFD INC funds (donations, gifts, ambulance billing, fund raising etc ...) They are not one in the same.

John Dayton controls the “Public Money,” but has no control over MVFD Inc. money, again, made up of donations, gifts, ambulance billing, fund raising, etc... 

Now John Dayton does have control over the $5,000 plus that he has to dig up because of all the FOIs.  That is money that could be spent on the Library. 

Again, Mr. DeAngelis’s  $800,000 figure is incorrect.  For instance, the entire amount of the Basketball fund raising has to be shown in the MVFD books, yet the Department only receives a small percentage of that total. I believe around 30%. The rest goes to the fund raiser.

Then there is the ambulance replacement fund and the ambulance fund itself. Because of ambulance billing, the taxpayers of Middlebury never have to worry about paying for a new ambulance.  The money is already in the account, because the MVFD puts money towards a new ambulance each year.  Although the Library is a great resource, the ambulance may just be a bit more important because it can save your life. 

Mr. DeAngelis  may not know that the MVFD pays $80,000 a year for ALS services.  This should be a Town expense as mandated by the State of Connecticut, yet the MVFD picks up the tab. This not only saves the taxpayers $80,000, but also saves those who use ALS services hundreds of dollars off their bill that they would have been charged if the MVFD ambulance did not respond. Any medications the medic uses on-board the ambulance are paid by the MVFD. 

This is one reason why Middlebury needs more volunteers to be trained as EMTs.  The more our ambulance responds instead of Campion, the greater the saving to the person who needs the service. 

The MVFD also pays for all medical supplies, oxygen, which includes oxygen utilized by the Police Department. Pagers have to be purchased from this account.  Since their was not enough money in the FEMA grant, the FD will be purchasing pagers for the ambulance staff.  High band pagers cost approximately $700.00 each.  The truth is, the MVFD pays for every aspect of the ambulance except for fuel, insurance, and the firehouse where it is stored. 

The ambulance is used by a great many people who are not town residents. Almost every I-84 call, many MVA accidents in town, and calls to doctor’s offices have a great number of people being served by our ambulance who are not Middlebury residents.  These individual’s insurance companies are helping to fund the ambulance which helps to fuel the ambulance fund so the Department will not have to go to the taxpayers.

How ambulance money can be used is very restricted.  It has to be used for ambulance or EMS-related purposes only.  It can not be used to pay library employees.  

Right now the MVFD is in the first steps of purchasing a new ambulance which will cost approximately $160,000.00. The money is already in the bank and there will be no need to go to the taxpayers for one cent of the cost of the replacement ambulance.

Every penny in the ambulance fund will go towards expenses associated with the ambulance.

Everyone should be cautioned, that this is NOT the goose that laid the golden egg.  If we do not have volunteers to ride on our ambulance, all this money will vanish.  Volunteer to help your community!  Call the MVFD and find out how you can help.

The MVFD also contributes back to the community in other ways as well.  We host the Town-wide Halloween party for the children, support the Little League, Middlebury Food Bank, and give two $1000 scholarships to high school students each year. We also support a variety of other charities.