PRESENT: Steve Bennett, Paul Card, Jim Chrabaszcz, Fred Crist, Don Duvall, Patti Gressel, Dr. Huffner, Bernadette Josbeno-Oakes, William Kennedy, Jim Kintz (for Ron Kintz), Jim Larson, Al Lewis, Kathy Lunney, Dr. Manganaro, J-R Miller, Bob Rajsky, Mike Smith, Mike Sprague, Dick Sullivan, Maryann Sweely, Teri Symonds & Mary Ann Teeter. STAFF PRESENT: Judy Blair
ABSENT/EXCUSED: K. Brimmer, R. Churches, Dr. Seaman
GUESTS: Mark Cowan, Wendy Shutter, Kelli Pollinger, Gary Blitz, Thomas Murphy, Chris Oakes & Chad Francis

CHAIR RAJSKY: Let's call the meeting to order. Welcome everyone to the first meeting of 2004 of the STREMS Emergency Medical Services Council.
     Introduction of guests, does anyone tonight have a guest they would like to introduce.

MIKE SPRAGUE: Yes. I do, Chad Francis is an individual that's following me around today; he is interested in emergency management. So far we haven't discouraged him all day. But he has been to Corning twice and a few other places, keeping him busy but he has an interest, tagging along with me tonight just to kind of observe.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Welcome. Anyone else?

TERI SYMONDS: Kelli Pollinger, she is the ER manager at St. James.

JIM LARSON: My alternate is Tom Murphy and Gary Blitz, is here tonight.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Welcome gentlemen, great. Anyone else have a guest here? Great. In keeping with our mission, because it's a new year we need to always keep that in mind. The major goal for this organization is: For our mission statement - to make sure every resident and visitor to the county, Chemung County and Schuyler, are provided high quality emergency care in a timely fashion. So that's really our purpose, our mission by our mission statement. So we need to kind of keep that in the forefront as we move forward for 2004.
     Correspondence, several things. We have a card from the Prutsman family for the gift that we donated to them, in Ellen's memory. We also have one from Troupsburg Volunteer Ambulance, STREMS also made a contribution to them per their request. That's what the family had requested. So we have that correspondence. We also have correspondence from the Yonkin family on the death of Larry, and thank you from them.
     We have correspondence from the Department of Health in regards to, every agency I am sure received this same later, course sponsors, everyone should have received it. Everyone starting July 2002 there was an advisory that virtually every defibrillator now has to be able to defibrillate pediatric patients. So that was from the Department of Health.

TERI SYMONDS: That was new defibrillator purchase, right?

CHAIR RAJSKY: Any new, right. And then from the Department of Health again, if you will, the bad boy list, the enforcement notifications so here we go.
     Leonard Joseph from Cheektowaga, New York, EMT number 201931, surrendered his certification for one year for violations of Part 800.16. Nikolus Miner of Saratoga Springs, New York, EMT number 250510, suspended for three years and probation for five years, again violations Part 800.16. Brain Gearity from Maspeth, New York, EMT number 51666, his certification was censured for violations of Part 800.15. Ernestina Nyquist, from Staten Island, EMT number 229263, her certification was censured as well for violation 800.15. Robert Marbisello from Wallkill, New York, EMT number 57251 surrendered his certification for violations of Part 800.16(b) and Part 800.16(d). The last one Robert Johnson from Masonville, New York State, EMT number 203051, surrendered his certification for violations of Part 800.15 (b).
     Previous minutes. We haven't met since October. It's been a while since we have been together. So I would certainly entertain a motion to approve the minutes of our last meeting.

DON DUVALL: So moved.

MARY ANN TEETER: Second.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Motion made, seconded. Discussion? All those in favor signify by saying aye? Opposed? Abstentions? Carried. (MOTION CARRIED, unanimous).

CHAIR RAJSKY: Great. Reports. Committee reports, STREMAC, SEMAC and State Council, Dr. Huffner.

DR. HUFFNER: Thank you. You have in your packet a number of items that need action by the Council. First I am going to get it out of the way is a, it's a blue sheet and it's the ALS renewal application for Rural/Metro Southern Tier. If you recall the ALS policies and procedures of the regulations require that ALS renewals certificate of operation renewals go directly through the STREMAC and to the Council. We have received appropriate documentation from both the area QI coordinator, the agency's chief operating officer or executive officer, I don't recall which one it was, as well as the service's medical director attesting to all the requirements, and attesting that they are in compliance with the ALS policies and procedures.
     I will make a motion that we approve the ALS renewal certificate for Rural/Metro Southern Tier.

MARYANN SWEELY: I would second it.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Motion made and seconded. Further discussion? Seeing none, all those signify by saying aye. Opposed? Abstentions? Carried. (MOTION CARRIED, unanimous.)

DR. HUFFNER: The next item that I wanted to point out to you had to do with another, the white sheet of paper, it's the summary of the State Emergency Medical Services Council meeting that met in December, this is the last meeting that we have. It's actually written by another summarizer, if you will, and it's rather, there is a few light areas in it, if you don't have anything else to do, it would be a good thing to read it.
     But I did want to point out a couple of things. Number 3 in the first page trauma triage protocol is being redrafted. I think I might have mentioned this in the meeting before last. Because of a lack of a quorum we weren't able to approve it. But there will be a few changes in the statewide BLS protocol that does have an impact in terms of what type of patient will be triaged to trauma centers.
     Point 6 on page 3, I just wanted to point that out that all ambulances in New York State had to be required to have an AED capable of defibrillating both adults and pediatric patients by January 2005. I think that's important enough to get that in to the record. I'm not aware of any ambulance in the region that doesn't already meet at least the adult capabilities. But I am not sure about that. The key thing there is pediatric patients, obviously that's going to have to be in operation.
     The third page, number 12 talks about the statewide ventric tube placement study that was done as a snapshot in the state, the STREMS region was one of I think six, maybe five regions that did participate. The data was, the raw data was sort of discussed to some degree at one of the, at the QI meeting. But again it's not, doesn't have it's Is dotted and Ts crossed. When we have that full report, I will certainly be bringing that back to you.
     Point 19 on the fourth page, interesting that we are in the process of, at least on a state level from the SEMAC and the protocols committee talking about the development and implementation of a possible spinal clearance protocol. There are at least two states in these 50 that have operational protocols that I believe it's from basic life and up, Basic Life Support providers and up. I am not sure about that now that I said that. But at least providers have a certain protocol to follow which can allow non-immobilization of patients, which is what we are talking about. There is going to be some literature research and some more work done on this, at least initially, there doesn't look to be much of any science out there in terms of how we are doing this. It's how the two states that are doing it are doing it. They have not had any bad events, there have not been any misadventures. But I am not sure that we're at least at this point ready to embark on that. But I think it's coming.
     The next item right under that is number 20, it has to do with the pilot project in New York City concerning designation of hospitals for stroke care. We did receive a preliminary report on that and it looks very very encouraging, in terms of the outcomes. It's clear however that it is not only the initial care that a patient receives in the management of acute stroke, but also the aftercare. Obviously rehab is important, but they clearly shown that patients, even if they went to stroke hospitals and received that emergent care that we are obviously aware of, the impact still, a lot of it has to do with the after the emergency care and rehabilitation, so at least preliminarily it looks like the stroke centers are going to be an important part of the care of this type of patient. But that again, aftercare is always going to be important. That's nothing new but this is already showing that. And this is just preliminary data.
     You should be aware of point 23, if you weren't, you probably haven't been reading any of the materials that have been sent out by the STREMAC. The New York State Critical Advisory Committee did meet with the SEMAC in a joint meeting which doesn't happen too often. We discussed issues associated with primary angioplasty, in a setting of acute MI. It is probably one of the hot topics in Albany and across the state. You all should also be aware that we're addressing that locally and that the state will be moving forward with some type of designation, I hesitate to say operating certificate designation. Some type of designation of hospital, providing this type of service. We in our region is actually one of the first regions to enact or at least to begin development of and in an attempt to enact a protocol, a lot of people are receiving, we received lots of requests for information and copy of the protocol that we have developed. And it's going to be, I will move forward on the state, again they say six to eight months, but know what that translates in to, it's rarely ever what occurs. But we will see what happens.
     The last point about the flu season in our region did react, you should have all received at least a post card from the STREMS organization, indicating that you should get your flu shot and that you should do it for yourself, your family and for those that you care for. Those are the only issues that I wanted to highlight from the state, the SEMSCo meeting as well as from the SEMAC.
     The other piece of paper that you should have in your packet is a hot pink one. It is an item list of the topics that were discussed at the last STREMAC meeting. You do not have in your packet a copy of the STREMAC meeting minutes. And that's for good reason, the last STREMAC meeting was a transcribed meeting and it's 152 pages. I have a copy of that here, and anyone is more than welcome to come and read it. It will be distributed to the membership in a squished down, probably wouldn't be able to read it form, so we don't have to use a wheelbarrow to mail it out in. But just for the sake of paper and for the sake of time because we just got this transcribed, and I have a copy of it here if anyone is interested in reading it. Essentially the bulk of that meeting however was taken up with, as you all should know with discussion of the revision of the ALS protocols.
     And I have outlined at least if you chose to come to look at the minutes, areas of discussion and items that were actually acted upon. The first four of those had to do with specific treatment protocols. The suspected acute MI protocol, again this is all old hat, you as a member of Council should have received a draft of that, the second redrafting of that protocol.
     Lorazepam was added to the protocols, and again that has been incorporated and sent out in that second draft.
     The addition of Ipatropium, I spelled that wrong, is also in the protocols as well as Promethazine.
     These were again additions to the drafts, revisions to the drafts that the STREMAC felt were substantive enough to warrant reissuing of the protocols, that's why it looked like you got another set of protocols to look at and comment back on. The reason is that again the SEMAC recipe for regional protocol approval requires any substantive changes to the original draft, they have to be redistributed. And that's why you got what looked like another packet of baloney from me.
     The fifth item was Rural/Metro ALS permit, we already acted upon. There was some discussion about QI activities. We have three specific QI items that are being worked on by the STREMAC.
     The last is one that needs action by the Council. Dr. Klick announced that he would be, in the very near future possibly before the next meeting, if I can convince him to stay a meeting or two more that would be great, that he would be relinquishing his position on the STREMAC. And his colleague Dr. Wayne Shariff has agreed to step up to the plate as it were and to become a member of the STREMAC. Again he is working at Schuyler Hospital, again we don't have any specific slots, but it's always healthy and we welcome having as many physicians, we try very hard to at least maintain one physician from each of the five emergency departments. So that does require his nomination, does require approval by the STREMS Council before the STREMAC can even entertain inviting him or electing him to membership.
     So I would make motion to approve Dr. Wayne Shariff's nomination to the STREMAC.

MARY ANN TEETER: Second.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Motion made and seconded. Great. Discussion? Has he become the ED medical director for Schuyler?

DR. HUFFNER: No, I wasn't told that.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Okay.

DON DUVALL: It was my understanding.

DR. HUFFNER: He is now?

STEVE BENNETT: I think it just happened like within the last week.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Any other --

DR. HUFFNER: At least a month old, my information.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Any other discussion?
     Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed? Abstentions? Carried. (MOTION CARRIED, unanimous)

DR. HUFFNER: Those are the, really the three issues that I wanted to bring to the Council. If anyone has any questions, I would be happy to answer them as best I can. That's it, thank you.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Thank you, Dr. Huffner. Training committee?

MARYANN SWEELY: Training committee met this evening. Training committee consists of 8 members and 5 exofficio members. Out of the 13 members, we had 12 in attendance, so I want to thank each of you that did make an effort to attend this evening.
     We reviewed our goals, our committee purpose, and our roster for this coming year. We welcomed two new members, actually they should have been welcomed back in November, but our meeting was canceled. I would like to take this opportunity to again welcome them, Mr. Bill Kennedy and Jim Larson from Elmira. So welcome gentlemen.
     We asked about the status of the STREMS sponsorship update, there is no change on that, that is still setting in limbo up in state.
     Certainly one of the main functions of the training committee is to review course evaluations. We had none, it's early in the season. Most of the courses are either midway or have just finished the first responders, so we have no evaluations at this point.
     One of the largest things that we talked about this evening was the, was a request that was made to the training committee back in September by QI, there was a need identified to increase the education, refresh the education, if you would on pediatrics. Training committee picked this up thanks to Patti Gressel and Cathy from STREMS staff and put together a STREMS pediatric update power-point program. The power point program, some of you may recognize was sent out to transporting agencies. I will give you a little information then I will ask Patti to jump in on this.
     The main purpose of this was to certainly refresh your information on pediatric care. You can get CMEs, there are CMEs attached to this, two of them by simply completing this program, and sending the assessment tests back to the STREMS office by March 31. Again this is not negating CFRs or EMTs or anyone else in the EMS community from taking this, reviewing this and taking this, but the initial jump off group, if you would, was the transporting agencies.
     Unfortunately we're not getting a lot of response back from this. So training has asked STREMS staff to send out reminders. It is on the Internet, there have been problems with the Internet, they have changed carriers or whatever you call them. It's up and running as of 4:00 today. So do know that this information is on the Internet. We understand and recognize that not all agencies have computer access. It's also has been sent out hard copy, the entire program. Which is a power-point program, has been sent out to transporting agencies.
     So if you would, those of you that are members of transporting agencies, please go back, remind your corps that this is available, the members need to be reviewing this. And getting it back to STREMS by the 31st of March. What else, Patti on this?

PATTI GRESSEL: Not really that much. It was developed from actually the chart that's include on the STREMS website from the pediatric assessment, and it follows that almost exactly. Follows the initial assessment, which is going over your general impression, your ABCs, then your neuros.
     It was identified through QI I think in, actually it was at our last meeting in October that the problem was identified from QI that pediatric patients are not being assessed properly and no GCS is being assigned to them. So we went through and developed this initial assessment review. And it's pretty quick. You can do it probably in about an hour. There is a post exam that's included in it. And I am not sure what the physicians had decided would be the passing grade for the exam.

DR. HUFFNER: I don't know what the passing grade for the exam is either. We were not asked to, STREMAC wasn't asked to pick that grade. From our perspective I think it would probably be best done by the training committee.
     But the STREMAC is very very interested in the level of participation in this. Because this is the first time that the Quality Improvement system that is fairly sophisticated in our region, relative to the rest across the state, identified a deficiency. We've watched it for several quarters, QI committee made the decision to move it on to the REMAC, the REMAC looked at it and said yes, we need some fixing here. We sent it to training and said come up with something that would be relatively simple, easy to use, easy to access. They did their part. It came back to the STREMAC, the STREMAC approved this. And now we have put it out for implementation.
     Again this is, while it's a volunteer system in terms of participation, the REMAC is very interested to see how much in fact gets done, how many people take this. Because it's the expectation of the REMAC and of the QI committee, I believe Bunny you can correct me if I am wrong, is that we will be begin rechecking, if you will, compliance with protocol and see how well our fix, if you will, the remediation did. If it had an impact. It's obviously not going to have an impact if people don't do it. And that's what our concern is.
     And certainly, it is a little bit disconcerting because we made fairly great effort, obviously from all those committees to take action to get a product out there in very short time, but tried to get it out as soon as possible and give as much time to as many people so that we could get the remediation under way. So it will be interesting to see how much participation we do get.

MARYANN SWEELY: I think -- thank you, Dr. Huffner -- training committee has identified that we need to heighten the awareness again of the availability of this and the importance of this. And that's what we are, our plan of action is. Judy and staff will be again putting it on the Internet, just reminding everyone that it is available. Also know that there are two hours of CMEs attached to this upon successful completion, and your pilot participants can use this as continuing education. So it is important, it is available, and sponsors have also taken the reigns and we will be going and reminding their CICs and CLIs that this is out there. And it should be utilized. Any questions on the pediatric power point that --

DR. HUFFNER: I just want to point out that I, I think I am the one who penned the letter that went to every single transporting agency in the region at least. So it's gone at least there.

MARYANN SWEELY: I guess the question that was brought up in training committee, and we sort of came up with our own answer was why did Dr. Huffner just identify transporting agencies. Well I think it was too big a global to put this out to the entire EMS community; and we have decided and correct us if we were wrong, you were using the transporting agency as a kick board or a spring board to get this, see if this program would be utilized.

DR. HUFFNER: Dr. Huffner didn't pick those. Dr. Huffner was more or less sort of said, I said send it to everyone, everyone can use this type of awareness. But that's a huge number of agencies, and it's a huge number of CDs and it's a great deal of work. Unfortunately the prediction was that we didn't think we were going to get much participation from even the transporting agencies. And I said well initially let's do it that way.
     Certainly from our perspective on the REMAC and everything, it should have gone to everyone. The philosophy is if you fill out a PCR in any way, shape or form this is helpful. It doesn't matter what your training is. Now you may not be able to understand each and over nuance of that but it will heighten your awareness. That was our philosophy that it should go to everyone. From an operations perspective, from STREMS, it is not inexpensive to do.

TERI SYMONDS: I do think things like this it should go to the course sponsors. People are calling us and saying what is it, why don't we have it. It's not made available to us. I knew about it through my agency. I didn't get it through the hospital. So I was able to answer them. But if I didn't get them through our agency I wasn't able to answer any questions.

DR. HUFFNER: I thought it went to the course sponsors.

MARYANN SWEELY: This went to the sponsors. But did not get a letter from you, penned by you or the hard copy. I didn't as a sponsor.

TERI SYMONDS: I didn't get any of that by a sponsor.

DR. HUFFNER: I thought it was supposed to go to the course sponsors and the transporting agency. But I could be wrong. Certainly should go there.

MARYANN SWEELY: We know the weaknesses in the system and we certainly identified them and we will correct them. The next thing on the agenda was plans for a PEP course, Mr. Duvall is taking the reigns on this one and is continuing to see what we can do about offering the PEP course within the area. So we will keep you updated on that.
     We reviewed the completed and current courses, which you would have received a copy of in your mailbox. The only addition is beginning in February and I can't remember the date, I think it's the second week, third week in February, Corning Hospital will once again be sponsoring a first responder original and a refresher class, this was at a direct request from Corning Incorporated. That's the only addition to the course list. That was it.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Good. Thank you. The public relations committee did not meet but they have at least one agenda item they would like to talk about.

MARY ANN TEETER: Well it's actually my privilege to read to all of you the Gold Stars of Life since our last meeting. I know you have all been waiting for this. And we have a nice list here:
     Todd Taggert was nominated by Jim Page, and says that Todd found his great-grandfather that fell off a ladder. Todd called the ambulance and guided the ambulance to the scene. He felt Todd was a huge asset to his great-grandfather.
     From Erway's and nominated by Jason Mitchell was Sean Connelly, Jordan Roth, David Ripley and Michael Rima for exemplary performance in a difficult resuscitation effort.
     Dave Forester from Rural/Metro nominated by Amy Lenhardt. On December 5, 2003, Dave responded with ALS 102 to an MVC on Mount Washington, the call came in as a rollover with ejection, possible DOA. Thanks to the fast response and treatment of Dave, not only was it not a DOA but the patient is expected to make a full recovery. I would like Dave to be recognized for this and the other fine work he does as a paramedic. And finally, Ed and Donna Tuite, David and Mickey McCormick from Bath Volunteer Ambulance nominated from by Amy Lenhardt says: "On December 5, 2003, thanks to Ed, Donna, Dave and Mickey for their speedy response and dedicated efforts to save a patient that was originally presumed to be DOA. The patient is expected to make a full recovery and his care at Robert Packer was made possible in part by these individuals."
     And from what I understand now, it is time to select someone to receive one of the Gold Star pins. And I will have the man to my immediate right select one.

DON DUVALL: And the winner is Sean Connelly.

MARY ANN TEETER: Sean Connelly from Erway Ambulance. I will pass that to Judy. We will make sure Sean gets that. And commend everyone for participating in this program. I think it really makes a difference.

CHAIR RAJSKY: That's nice to see the momentum for that program continues. Systems committee did not meet?

DON DUVALL: Just a couple short items. We had not met, you are correct. There are no outstanding public access defibrillation applications at this time.
     The MCI trailers are for the most part back to their homes, Schuyler County has theirs back as well. There are still a couple unresolved equipment issues that are being worked on.
     The radio program that we have been working on for a couple years now continues. Mike Smith told me he spoke with Motorola today, they are still working on their engineering phase with that.
     And our TV commercials, if you will recall we had time owed to us or time coming to us from WETM for a project that was done about two years ago now. And that is due to start airing next Tuesday or Wednesday, Wednesday or Thursday. So look out for the television appearances, and provide some feedback. Let us know how you think they look, how you think they are working out and so on. Would appreciate it.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Okay thanks. Critical incident stress management.

MARYANN SWEELY: Just two brief reports since we did not meet in November. The team activities for September and October of 2003, that was a busy time for us, we had 25 debriefings, one defusing and four educational offerings in that two month time frame. November, December, gave us 12 debriefings, one defusing and three educational offerings.
     I would just give you a year to date activity, compared to last year, we have had 181 debriefings, four defusings and 25 educational programs which was a team total of 110 hours. And I didn't want to put this on an overhead because I think they charge $10 to rent it for five minutes. But I think it's easy enough to see here. As you can see the team has continuously stayed up in the high hundreds as far as debriefings are concerned, so the team is still very very active, continues to remain active within the tri-county area. Not only for our EMS staff but for hospitals, other organizations, schools as well. That's it.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Thank you. Other business? Tuesday was to be the first of three, if you will, town meetings. Dr. Huffner and myself were to break the region up and to have a meeting in Hornell with folks, EMS agencies surrounding that area. And then in the Bath area, central if you will, Steuben County, and then one in Big Flats. The first was supposed to be in Hornell last Tuesday, unfortunately we had one, two people sign-up, one agency and the Department of Health representative. So seeing, that we decided to cancel that. That was really not the mission.
     We kind of had a set agenda to kind of spell out STREMS's mission, and to kind of to hear the agencies' sides and issues and what's happening out there. And this was a charge that we said that we were going to do, I know Dr. Huffner has said it in the past and myself, make sure that we meet at some regularity with all of the EMS agencies within the region. Unfortunately that one was canceled.
     The next one is Wednesday, this upcoming Wednesday in Bath, the location for that is.

MIKE SPRAGUE: I think it's the Days Inn.

CHAIR RAJSKY: That's correct. Days Inn in Bath, then it's at the Hilton Garden Inn the following Thursday. So all agencies, that's including first response, transporting agencies, are welcome to that. We ask that you call the STREMS office, dinner is involved as well.

JUDY BLAIR: Deadline for the Bath meeting was today. We will still accept your calls tomorrow.

MIKE SPRAGUE: Bob, a couple things, I didn't know about it until you called me that day. It appears that the mailing didn't arrive until Saturday or Monday of this week for a lot of agencies. The dates on the letters were like the 18th or the 23rd I think it was. I am just doing it from memory. But by the time -- the problem that a lot of our corps had is if you don't get it there for their monthly meetings, then a lot of times that mail will sit until the next monthly meeting.
     Now I do know that next Wednesday after talking with some people from Bath Ambulance, that is their Board of Directors meeting night, it's the same night as that Wednesday. So I am not sure what kind of response you are going to get out of Bath Ambulance.

JUDY BLAIR: They have already called.

MIKE SPRAGUE: They have, okay. So you know it's, you need to get more of a lead time built in to I think this sort of an arrangement. And the same token is if I know about it, I can make announcements and stuff for you as well. Especially over Christmas holidays you almost have to let them know, arrange it in November to get it to happen in January. So I don't know why the mail was so delayed. But I do know some people never got it until like Monday of this week.

AL LEWIS: Will you try to reschedule in Hornell again?

CHAIR RAJSKY: Yeah, we will see how Bath goes and Big Flats, then we will try again in Hornell.

AL LEWIS: I certainly believe those meetings are very important, specifically in Steuben County, because I think there are some issues out there that need to be put on the table. And I don't think they are going to be put on the table unless you have these meetings. We need to keep Steuben County strongly behind STREMS. And I think there is some issues that need to be shared. I would encourage you to work through Mike's office to double up on notification. Just to make sure that the word does get out early on.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Sure.

MARYANN SWEELY: May I ask or request something. And this might be an appropriate place to put it. I was speaking with Judy this past week and wondering whether we have access to your e-mail addresses, they are few and far between, if this evening you do have an e-mail address from your corps, your company or department, could you kindly give it to STREMS? That's just another excellent avenue to get information to you on meetings or things that, a much quicker than the snail mail of the United States Postal department. Not that we will give that up. But it would be another means of getting information to you.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Sure. And the lead in to that is, at least the preliminary test of STAR, of the Southern Tier Assisted Response message went out so everyone from Council should have received a phone call for a voice mail from the STAR program stating that it was in fact up and running.

MIKE SMITH: When did you do that, Bob?

CHAIR RAJSKY: It was probably before Christmas.

(Group response of not receiving calls.)

CHAIR RAJSKY: Somebody is giving us the wrong numbers. It gives a list of what number it called, if it talked to a real person, real person or answering machine. I forget what the statistics were but it was pretty high, and only one case that talked to a, that talked to a live person who hung up, I mean.

JUDY BLAIR: It was agencies.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Transporting agencies. It was agency, somebody live answered the phone and hung up when they heard the recorded message. And probably thought it was telemarketer. So that was the first go.

JIM CHRABASZCZ: It doesn't say please hold for an important message, does it?

CHAIR RAJSKY: Yes.

JIM CHRABASZCZ: Forget it.

MARYANN SWEELY: Forget it. Hang up.

CHAIR RAJSKY: We will test, because we have all the Council members on, so we will do that. Don't hang up until you hear the whole spiel. I don't think it says, something about that it is message from STREMS or something. We will try to do a lot of communication that way, so meeting is canceled. But the intent is for that, for disaster kinds of things. That was my other business.
     Tonight we have two members that will be leaving Council. So we want to make sure that we take this opportunity to recognize their contributions over the years to Council.
     First person I would like to recognize is Wendy Shutter. Wendy is from Schuyler and has been a member for years. And has really made a huge impact on Schuyler County, specifically the Schuyler Ambulance. So I want to read the plaque presented to Wendy Shutter: In grateful and sincere appreciation of her focused and thoughtful participation as a Council member of the Southern Tier Regional Emergency Council given this date. So Wendy, thank you for all your help. (APPLAUSE)

CHAIR RAJSKY: Second person is Mark Cowan, Mark has been a member for many many many years.

AL LEWIS: How many?

CHAIR RAJSKY: Many many.

MARK COWAN: I don't know. I wasn't counting.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Mark has been involved in many projects that has led us through many painful discussions, painful projects and always has kind of given another side of a different perspective over the years. And so as, I have worked for Mark at St. Joe's for several years there, and got to know him pretty well. So given this date to Mark Cowan in grateful and sincere appreciation for your many years of dedication and commitment to the EMS of the Southern Tier given this date. Thank you, Mark. (APPLAUSE)

MARK COWAN: While it hasn't always been a pleasure, it has always been a privilege to work with this group I have to say. I will always be and stand in awe of all of you and all you do -- takeaway those of you on the front line.

CHAIR RAJSKY: If we could lure him back over the border he could --
     Renewal of members. We have a few members that need to be renewed. In the meantime Steve Bennett, Steve has been appointed to the executive committee, he's really replacing Allen Davis on that committee.
     Speaking of that, has anyone had any contact with Allen, does anyone have any update on his condition?

STEVE BENNETT: He just came home on Friday, he has a long road ahead of him. Lost all of his quad muscle in his left femur, lost half of his femur, 12 hours of surgery. He's in a wheelchair and walker getting around right now. But is expected to make a full recovery to the best of his extent.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Great. Thank you. Just looking through, if we had the old minutes, we had the names.
     Mike Smith, do you have any 911 stories for us?

MIKE SMITH: I would just tell you if any of you had the opportunity to read the Leader today and read the account of the Steuben County legislature's public safety meeting yesterday where they had the gentlemen who proclaimed himself some manner of expert in taxation and finance, quite honestly we're baffled about what he is talking about.

AL LEWIS: He is an expert in many things.

MIKE SMITH: Apparently he has got the legislature excited over what Chemung County owes Steuben. We don't know what they are talking about. We examined a cell phone bill today and we're going to look at a couple more, but we couldn't find any sales tax on it. A lot of other taxes on there, but no sales tax. So we're going to look at some more and see if we can find them. I think it would have been nice if he shared the bills he had, but I understand they were secret.

MIKE SPRAGUE: I don't know. He had them and was showing them to everybody. I just sat and watched. It was interesting.

MIKE SMITH: The other interesting thing, he talked about all the revenue Chemung County has been receiving from wireless surcharge. Well it amounts presently to zero. That's how much we have collected. If you are a Chemung County resident, you will now see our 30 cent surcharge on your December bill, it has finally appeared. But we have yet to realize any monies from that. So I don't know who this guy is but he knows a lot more about it than we do I guess.

MIKE SPRAGUE: Good salesman.

MARYANN SWEELY: So the mayor of Corning should not expect to see that two million dollar check?

MIKE SMITH: I don't think I would hold my breath.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Mike Sprague, any updates from 911 in Steuben?

MIKE SPRAGUE: Actually yes. The request for proposals are out on the street. They were supposed to have been back in, they gave an extension, 10 day extension, a couple vendors requested that because of the holidays, the flu season and a number of other good excuses. So they are due back on the 16th of this month. We will go in to the process of reviewing the proposals for the CAD system, and the proposal, the request that was put out was for combination CAD system, mapping and telephone system combined. So either one company or a consortium of companies that can provide all three is what's being requested for. So we should know after the 16th what kind of numbers we're talking. And then I am sure they will be from the bottom end to the top end and sticker shock will arrive at some point. But they will be reviewed and looked at and at some point that's really the biggest hurdle we have right now. Where the system, a lot of the addressing components are moving along quite rapidly. All the towns but one I believe have approved their maps. One is looking for some approval from the state for some reason, I am not exactly privy to that part. But the addressing is moving right along. So that should be done in pretty good short order. So the end of the year is still looking promising for 911.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Bill, anything from Schuyler County?

BILL KENNEDY: No, not this time.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Not this time. Okay great. We have the list of Council member renewals, that would include Paul Card, Patti Gressel, Dr. William Huffner, Bob Rajsky, Teri Symonds and Mike Sprague. So all of those were presented in October, and all are willing to reserve. So I would certainly --

FRED CRIST: I make that motion.

MIKE SMITH: Second.

CHAIR RAJSKY: Motion made and seconded. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed? Abstentions? Carried. (MOTION CARRIED, unanimous)

CHAIR RAJSKY: Other business to come before Council this evening? Seeing none, I will entertain the most important motion.

DR. HUFFNER: Move to adjourn.

STEVE BENNETT: Second.

CHAIR RAJSKY: All those in favor. Carried. (MOTION CARRIED, unanimous)

C E R T I F I C A T I O N
I hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence are contained fully and accurately in the notes taken by me on the above cause and that this is a correct transcript of the same to the best of my ability.
ELIZABETH R. BRUCIE