Elmhurst Officials Debate Adding New Firefighter Service

ELMHURST, IL — One Elmhurst mayoral candidate at Monday's City Council meeting cited costs in arguing against the idea of adding advanced life support to the city's fire trucks. Another said the costs would be minimal.

As the debate now stands, a number of council members appear opposed to having firefighters provide the additional service. That includes aldermen Scott Levin and Mark Mulliner, both mayoral candidates.

Alderman Michael Bram takes the other side. So too does the firefighters union, which says it can provide the service with no new labor costs, pension liabilities or stipends.

During the council meeting, Ward 3 Alderwoman Dannee Polomsky, chairwoman of the council's Public Affairs and Safety Committee, said the city had a "high risk" of spending millions, including on pensions, if it agreed to let firefighters offer advanced life support. Now, the city offers the service through its private paramedic service, Superior Ambulance.

Polomsky noted a city attorney's advice to the committee last week that the city must bargain with firefighters on any new service such as advanced life support once it is added. Despite the union's promises now, the attorney said, no labor agreement lasts forever.

Polomsky told her colleagues, "Once you open the door, you can never close it."

Ward 3's Bram said he wanted to be careful not to obstruct the committee process on the issue. He asked a few questions such as whether fire trucks go on all emergency medical service calls. He was told that was the case.

Ward 5's Levin said the issue has resulted in a "very heated debate because we have put the cart in front of the horse." He said "various people" have taken positions before the city completes its analysis.

"It's important we do the analysis first and find out what is really best for the city," Levin said. "There is a significant cost to advanced life support. If we aren't looking at that, we are kidding ourselves... If we start transferring (emergency medical technician) services to firefighters, it becomes something we have to bargain, and we cannot predict where it's going to go."

He added the city's addition of a "rapid response" vehicle in 2017 enhanced the city's services.

Bram then interrupted Levin, calling for a "point of order." He said it sounded as if Levin were advocating a position when aldermen should only ask questions as the committee review moves ahead.

Mayor Steve Morley allowed Levin to continue. (In December, Mulliner asked the mayor to cut off Bram about the same issue, but the mayor let Bram resume.)

Levin continued by saying the city has a diminishing return as it adds services. He said it could be taken to the point that the city has a medical doctor on every ambulance.

"Our residents would get the very best, unparalleled service, but what's the cost? It's a balance," Levin said.

Bram said a foundation has offered to pay for the advanced life support equipment, estimated to cost about $80,000.

As for labor negotiations, Bram said, "I see that to be zero or very minimal risk."

He also said the union indicated it would not include advanced life support as part of negotiations.

Ward 7's Mulliner said little at the meeting, but he questioned the cost of adding advanced life support at a candidate forum last month.

Polomsky disagreed that the costs of adding the service would be minimal.

"This is millions of dollars, not a couple of thousand dollars," she said. "This makes the cost of the equipment negligible, even if we received a grant for the equipment. What we are looking at is pension costs, for which we have little control."

The council made no decision on advanced life support at its meeting.

Adding the service is a key plank in Bram's platform. Advanced life support includes starting IVs, administering medication, cardiac monitoring, and advanced airway maneuvers, including intubation, according to Bram's campaign website.

"I would hate to see our firefighters arrive on the scene first and they cannot utilize the skill set that they have today," Bram said in a recent interview. "Do you want to be that family where the fire department arrives first and they cannot do something for your loved one?"

The election is April 6.