LOCKPORT, N.Y. — Back in 2014, the City of Lockport dissolved its ambulance unit and also laid off 12 firefighters. At the time the common counsel did so for financial reasons.
Since then, Twin City Ambulance has provided service for the City of Lockport, but it was always a temporary solution.
On Jan. 31, that temporary solution will come to an end. Twin City, in a letter to Lockport officials, said it will not be able to provide service full time. On top of that, Twin City can only continue to be supplemental service if the fire department resumes ambulance service. The idea being they are willing to help out a public entity with service, but not willing to help out another for-profit company if the city decides to hire one.
Mayor Michelle Roman formed a committee to look at the issue, and that committee recommended that the city could resume ambulance service through the fire department. The committee consisted the Republican appointed Niagara County Fire Director and Emergency Services Director Jonathan Schultz and other Lockport residents with emergency service experience.
Lockport already owns two ambulances, and 34 firefighters in the department are paramedics.
But now the Common Council doesn't agree to bring back the fire departments ambulance unit.
"They wanted their own independent financial analysis," Mayor Roman said. "They didn't trust the Director of Emergency Management Services of the county and others that are professionals in the field, and their recommendations to them."
Mayor Roman said the council is hiring an outside financial analyst to review the plan.
"They agreed to $25,000, no more than $30,000 for financial analysis for something that you can find on the Comptroller's website," Mayor Roman said.
"I think it's nothing but politics," added Council President Paul Beakman Jr.
Beakman is the only Democrat on the council.
With Twin City Ambulance already struggling to serve Lockport, nearby volunteer companies are providing mutual aid to help the city.
"We're not in business to leech off of other valued fire companies when we have men and women that are able to do this job," Beakman said. "The politics have to stop."
Added Lockport Fire Department Chief Luca Quagliano: "We need to figure out a solution to a lack of transportation for for ill patients."
2 On Your Side asked Quagliano if partisan politics is putting public safety at risk.
"It's hard to come to any other conclusion and my position," Quagliano said. "I try very hard to stay out of the political issues between the two parties, because I feel my position is to present facts and data and solutions to problems."
"But when you present all those things, and you're still being told none of them are valuable, or we don't trust what you're telling us, or that won't work, we're going to whatever the excuse may be, how long can you listen to these reasons that they feel are rational, and come to any other conclusion," Quagliano said.
WGRZ reached out to Kathryn Fogle, who represents the 4th Ward of the City of Lockport to comment for this story, but we did not receive a response.