By Jimmy McCarthy

jmmccarthy@post-journal.com

MAYVILLE — Implementation of a fly-car system is underway to aid commercial and volunteer medical services respond to the growing number of emergency calls throughout Chautauqua County.

Last month, legislators agreed during budget discussions to keep three fly-cars within the 2017 adopted budget after it was proposed by the county Emergency Services Department and County Executive Vince Horrigan.

On Monday, legislators on the Administrative Services Committee passed a resolution to set salaries for senior paramedic and paramedic positions. The committee’s approval initiates a lengthy process in hopes to have the fly-car system in operation by the first quarter of 2017, according to Julius Leone, county emergency services director.

Specifically, classification by the Human Resources Departments shows the paramedic position  would be set at a Grade 11 salary level, $16.88-$21.64 an hour, or $35,110-$45,011 per year. The senior paramedic would be set at a Grade 14 salary level, $18.66-$23.98, or $38,813-$49,878 per year.

Leone said they’re looking to hire one senior paramedic, three full-time paramedics and six part-time paramedics.

“When Human Resources looked at grades, they looked at salary levels for comparable size counties that offer paramedic service,” Leone said. “They looked at Livingston and Albany counties. They compared those with a state survey that they do based on paramedics that are working for municipalities and that’s how they came up with these (figures).”

Legislator Dave Himelein, R-Findley Lake, asked Leone if the wages being requested would steal people away from other services like Alstar. Leone responded by saying they don’t want to have a situation where there’s a shift in staff from one service to another.

“It will just open another set of situations,” Leone said.

Legislator Christine Starks, D-Fredonia, asked if the wages are comparable to what’s paid by private agencies. Leone said they’re likely competitive with what other services pay.

In August, the release of a county-initiated EMS study found that a fly-car system was necessary to handle a rise in 9-1-1 calls, which can be attributed to a large older demographic.

The system is used widely throughout portions of the U.S and Europe. Leone said the system would initially be available Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Leone said the goal of the fly-car system is to allow for a blended response system with volunteers and commercial service.

Moving the system to operation will be a lengthy process as Leone said they need to advertise the positions, hire people, purchase and outfit vehicles and determine the areas in which the fly-cars would stationed.

Legislators on the Public Safety and Audit and Control Committees will take up the resolution this week before it heads to the full County Legislature at the Nov. 16 meeting.