Borough of Chambersburg, PA Article II Ambulance Service

[Added 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-16[1]]

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also changed the title of the chapter from "Fire Department" to "Fire and Ambulance Services."

§ 30-5 Emergency Medical Services; purposes; responsibilities.

The Chambersburg Fire Department, under the supervision of the Emergency Services Chief, provides emergency medical services through its career (full-time and part-time) personnel. The personnel providing emergency medical services are required to meet minimum requirements and administrative guidelines recommended by the Borough Emergency Services Chief and promulgated by the Borough Manager.

§ 30-6 Services.

A. The Fire Department is charged with providing basic life support (BLS) services within the Borough of Chambersburg. The Fire Department is authorized to provide mutual aid BLS services to neighboring communities.

B. The Borough of Chambersburg may provide advanced life support (ALS) services within the Borough of Chambersburg by either: contracting with an ALS service provider or designating personnel as ALS service providers.

§ 30-7 Definitions.

For the purposes of this article, the following words, terms, phrases, and abbreviations shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section.

BILLING PERIOD

The interval of time between two successive bills; under normal conditions this period will be approximately 30 days.

BOROUGH

The Mayor and Town Council of the Borough of Chambersburg, commonly known as the "Borough of Chambersburg" and/or its duly authorized representatives acting on its behalf.

PATIENT

Any person to whom emergency medical services were rendered by the Fire Department.

PERSON

Any individual, firm, corporation, trust, association, partnership, company, or organization.

SERVICE FEE

A fee for the sole purpose of funding emergency medical services that is assessed in accordance with the provisions of § 30-8B of this chapter.

USER

Any person, as defined above, owning any property serviced with utilities or emergency medical service from the Borough.

§ 30-8 Patient and service fees.

A. Patient fees. The Fire Department is authorized and directed to bill patients for emergency medical services in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.

B. Service fee. An ambulance service fee in the amount of $7.50, or such other amount as may be established by resolution from time to time, shall be assessed to each water customer in the Borough of Chambersburg, regardless of service provider, and shall be included in water service utility invoices issued by the Borough of Chambersburg to those customers responsible for the water service at any service location. The ambulance service fee shall be listed on the utility invoice as a separate line item, in the amount set forth herein, regardless of the total invoice amount, the quantity of utility services used in the billing period, the type of land use, or the taxability of the invoice recipient. For residential and multifamily customers, the ambulance service fee shall be based on the total number of dwelling units (as defined in Chapter 292) served by metered water service. For commercial and industrial establishment (as defined in Chapter 292) water customers, the ambulance service fee shall be based on the number of water meters serving the establishment. In commercial and industrial establishments that have multiple users or structures that house mixed commercial and residential uses, where each user has a separate water meter, each water customer (each user) shall be assessed one separate ambulance service fee per water meter. In nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or other similar establishments, a separate ambulance service fee shall be assessed for each water meter serving the facility. Except that water meters or water service connections solely for fire protection systems shall not be included in such calculations.

[Amended 2-24-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-03; 12-14-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-11[1]]

(1) Expenses covered by ambulance service fee. The fees collected under this article shall be designated for sole purpose of funding emergency medical services.

(2) Terms and conditions. Terms and conditions regarding the ambulance service fee, including, but not limited to: billing, interest and penalties, and payment requirements shall be in accordance with the utility service manual, as may be revised from time to time by the Mayor and Town Council, and shall be available for public inspection at the Utility Offices at Borough Hall, the Utilities Service Center at 80 South Franklin Street, and online at www.chambersburgpa.gov.

(3) Penalty. The penalty added after the due date will be 2.5%.

(4) Effective date. The ambulance service fee established by this article shall become effective with all utility bills rendered on or after January 1, 2020.

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance provided that it will take effect with the first utility billing period of January 2021.