Groton — The chairman of the Groton Town Council's Public Safety Committee proposed a plan Thursday that would create a new emergency medical service in Groton and replace the services of Groton Ambulance Association Inc.

Councilor Rich Moravsik outlined the plan at the Poquonnock Bridge Fire District board of directors' meeting, seeking its approval to have the Poquonnock Bridge Fire Department create an emergency medical service division to take over responding to medical calls.

The district board voted unanimously to authorize its chief to move forward with the plan and create the division in case it's needed.

To change ambulance services, Moravsik would need approval of the council's Public Safety Committee and the council itself, and then would have to petition the state. 

The state Department of Health assigns the geographical area that ambulance organizations cover.

"The purpose of this is to seek improvement in our services," Moravsik said. "That's what this is about."

In July, Moravisk began investigating the ambulance association after hearing complaints that Groton Ambulance provided no service on seven Sundays in April and May, and did not respond to five calls the last week of June.

In one instance, a man injured at a loading dock waited with firefighters for an ambulance that never arrived. He was so upset by the wait he drove himself to a local emergency room.

Moravsik requested data from Groton Ambulance for the 45 days that began July 9 and ended Aug. 23. 

Moravsik and other town officials are scheduled to meet on Aug. 24 with Raphael M. Barishansky, the director of the state Department of Public Health's Office of Emergency Medical Services.

Barishansky requested the meeting after receiving a letter detailing complaints about the ambulance service.

George Timothy Law, president of Groton Ambulance Association, said after the complaints were aired that the agency had a temporary staffing shortage that has since been addressed. 

Regarding the man at the loading dock, Law said the call was canceled.

Members of Groton Ambulance at the fire district meeting Thursday declined comment.

Under the plan, the fire department would use the building at 217 Newtown Road now occupied by Groton Ambulance, and staff it 24 hours a day with four emergency medical technicians per shift for two ambulances.

A third ambulance would be staffed by per diem EMTs when their presence is required at events such as ball games.

The district would also hire one full-time assistant fire chief, who now works at the fire department, to manage the service and report directly to the chief.

Members of Groton Ambulance would be interviewed for jobs if they are qualified.

"We don't want to have anybody lose jobs if its possible," Moravisk said.

Fire Chief Joe Winski said employees at Groton Ambulance would be given the first opportunity to work so jobs are protected.

"There's a lot of dedicated individuals there, and they deserve the proper respect," he said.

The cost of the plan, estimated at $1.45 million, would be covered by billing, a town donation equal to what Groton Ambulance receives, and fundraising.

Any additional money collected above expenses would be returned to the fire district's general fund to reduce the tax rate. That amount is estimated at about $300,000 the first year.

"I think it's an excellent opportunity for the fire district and the taxpayers," Fire District Board Member Susan Aguiar said.

The contract between the town of Groton and the fire district, if approved, would last 24 months, and would cover all areas that Groton Ambulance currently covers, including Groton City, Poquonnock Bridge, Center Groton, Pleasant Valley and the area around Navy housing.

d.straszheim@theday.com

Twitter: @DStraszheim