MONTICELLO – The Sullivan Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Advisory Board announced that they will disband and become the Sullivan County EMS Council during the Public Safety Committee meeting on Thursday, November 14, pending the approval of the Sullivan County Legislature.

The resolution passed unanimously through the full board on Thursday, November 21. The disbandment of the EMS Advisory Board and its By-Laws and Rules of Order is effective December 31 and the creation of the EMS Council will begin on January 1. 

This decision, voted on by the Advisory Board at their most recent meeting, allows the organization to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so it will be its own entity and not be under the purview of the Sullivan County Government. 

“This decision was not made lightly,” said EMS Provider Susan Sherwood, a representative of the EMS Advisory Board on Thursday, November 14. “It came after significant discussion and shared recognition of the challenges that we face, as well as the greater impacts we need to achieve.”

The Sullivan County EMS Advisory Board By-Laws and Rules of Order were adopted on October 22, 1997 and amended on November 22, 2000. 

The EMS Advisory Board will have its final meeting on Wednesday, December 4 at 7 p.m.

“This marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new phase for EMS in Sullivan County,” Sherwood said. “While the Advisory Board has successfully raised awareness of key EMS issues across the county, our capacity to drive meaningful change has often been limited.”

Sherwood noted that advisory boards are designed to offer guidance, but their impact remains constrained without the authority and resources to make or enact decisions. 

“By transitioning to a council, we will have the structure, influence and tools to support and enhance EMS services throughout Sullivan County in new ways,” she said. “As a council, we will have the ability to directly address the well-being of our providers and supporting the mental and physical wellness of our teams is crucial.”

Sherwood also said that with a council structure, they can introduce programs that directly mitigate burnout and foster a supportive environment for their providers. She also added that they will have the chance to expand training opportunities and with access to specialized training, the skills and readiness of their EMS teams will be strengthened. 

With council status, she said that they can proactively secure funding and resources for new training programs, which would ensure that their providers “are equipped to offer the highest quality of care to residents.”

“Our council status will also allow us to collaborate more effectively with local governing bodies and individual EMS agencies,” Sherwood said. “As a council, we will be able to coordinate resources and set consistent standards across our county, building a stronger network for the EMS services. This means we will be in a better position to support every agency, every team and ultimately every resident who relies on us in times of need.”

Sherwood noted that they remained committed to assisting the Legislature with any EMS-related concerns and recommendations, but the council status will allow them to “extend the support to more local agencies” and “respond to emerging issues with greater agility and authority.”

District 6 Legislator Luis Alvarez, the Chair of the Public Safety Committee, made it clear that the council will remain the same, with the same personnel, but they will just govern themselves.  

“EMS is working amazingly and I’ll take a moment to thank you very much,” Alvarez said. “I listen to what goes on on the scanner, so I can hear the amount of calls that are being answered and what 9-1-1 is doing.”