The provision of medical assistance in emergency situations is a matter
of vital concern affecting the public health, safety and welfare. It is the
purpose of this chapter to promote the health, safety and welfare of the residents
of the Town of Cheektowaga by providing for the registration and licensing
of ambulance services operating within the Town of Cheektowaga, the creation
of an Emergency Medical Services Board and the establishment of minimum equipment
and communications standards for emergency medical services.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
AMBULANCE
Any vehicle equipped for the care of and used in the transportation
of the wounded, sick, injured, ill or infirm people.
BASE STATION
The location where ambulances are stationed and from which they are
dispatched.
[Added 2-19-1986]
DISPATCHER
An employee of the Fire Alarm Committee, Cheektowaga Police Department
or any other entity designated, from time to time, to dispatch ambulance services
by the Board.
EMS BOARD
The Cheektowaga Emergency Medical Services Board created hereunder.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company
or any organization of any kind.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following:
A. Ambulances owned and/or exclusively operated by any federal,
state, county or other governmental agency.
B. Private vehicles utilized on an infrequent basis in the
transportation of a convalescent from a hospital to his/her home or from his/her
home to an outpatient clinic or hospital.
C. Private vehicles used in the transportation of the infirm
or crippled to and from places for rehabilitory therapy.
D. A physician, resident intern or registered nurse.
E. Any ambulance operated by a duly-organized volunteer
fire company, organized and existing under Article 11 of the Town Law.
[Amended 8-5-1995; 9-5-1995]
A. Applications for licenses for a driver/attendant shall
be made upon forms to be provided by the Town Clerk and shall contain such
information as the Town Clerk and EMS Board shall deem reasonably necessary,
in addition to meeting the following requirements and qualifications:
(1) Each applicant for a license as a driver/attendant shall submit to a criminal history investigation by the Cheektowaga Police Department. As part of such investigation, said applicant shall supply his/her fingerprints. Such fingerprints shall be forwarded to the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), along with the appropriate processing fee. All processing fees shall be paid by the applicant. The only authorized method of payment will be a United States Postal, American Express or Travelers Express money order made out to DCJS. A license will not be granted to a driver/attendant convicted of a felony, any offense relating to theft, insurance fraud offenses or a series of convictions for traffic offenses that would indicate a pattern of disregard for vehicle or personal safety. The record checks will determine if the applicant meets the criteria established in §
52-13A and
B.
(2) Each applicant shall:
(a) Submit satisfactory proof of completion of the minimum
requirements imposed by the State of New York.
(b) Submit a current certificate of completion of an EMT
course to the EMS Board.
B. Upon being satisfied that the driver/attendant meets
the requirements of this chapter, the EMS Board to whom the application shall
be referred shall recommend approval of such application.
The Town Board shall determine the license fees to be assessed from
time to time by resolution.
All licensees which operate an ambulance subject to this chapter in
the Town of Cheektowaga shall procure and maintain liability insurance with
insurance companies authorized to do business in the State of New York in
such kinds and amounts as shall be, from time to time, determined by the EMS
Board. A certified copy of each policy (or certificate of insurance, if deemed
acceptable by the EMS Board) shall be submitted with each license application
and thereafter upon renewal or replacement of each policy. Each such policy
shall contain a provision agreeing to notify the EMS Board and the Town Clerk,
Town of Cheektowaga, Town Hall, Broadway and Union Road, Cheektowaga, New
York, 14227, at least 30 days in advance in the event of any material alteration,
cancellation or nonrenewal of such insurance. Any applicant unable to comply
with the requirements established by the EMS Board may apply for a waiver
by providing full details of the circumstances to the EMS Board.
The owner of an ambulance to whom a license has been issued under the
provisions hereof shall be under duty and obligation to, and by accepting
such license shall be deemed to, consent to the following obligations:
A. Designate base station for ambulance service where such
service can be reached at all times.
B. Give prior notice to the dispatcher when and why an ambulance
is out of service.
C. Notify the dispatcher when a particular ambulance is replaced and, if replaced, comply with the licensing requirements of §
52-5 above.
D. Any additional requirements which may be imposed, from
time to time, by the EMS Board.