The Bristol Village Board on Monday night approved a contract that will guarantee a firefighter/EMT-I is available around the clock for village medical calls.
The contract is with Metro Paramedic Services Inc. of Elmhurst, Illinois. They will provide Bristol with three firefighter/EMT-I’s each working a 24-hour shift followed by 48 hours off. The first year of service will cost the village $185,736. The second year will cost 189,391.
The contract was approved 5-1. Trustee Carolyn Owens cast the dissenting vote.
Bristol Fire Chief Peter Parker began making the case in March of last year for hiring full-time personnel to provide consistent coverage for medical calls. Contracting for the staffing developed as a more cost effective way of getting the coverage rather than the village hiring directly. A meeting with presentations from three contractors was held in December.
With the contract approved, interviewing of personnel can begin. The village will have a part in the hiring process.
The village is anticipating the new personnel beginning work in March, said Randy Kerkman, village administrator.