HEATHER BOA Bullet News GODERICH – Huron County staff is drafting a call for a consultant to review its emergency medical services by the end of this year, based on a recommendation from a governance review released in spring 2012.
The consultant will be asked to look for staff and resource efficiencies in a department that was established in 2001 and now employs 72 paramedics with an operating budget of nearly $10 million.
In his May 2012 report to council on the county’s governance, consultant George Cuff recommended a review of EMS by the end of 2013 and that any management or supervisory roles that became vacant in that time remain open until. The justification for the recommendation was contained in a portion of the report that was not released to the public. The decision to hire a consultant was made behind closed doors on Feb. 6.
The county considered hiring Cuff to complete the review of EMS but he is unavailable, Brenda Orchard, the county’s CAO, reported to committee of the whole this week.
The draft request for proposals (RFP) asks the consultant to review variables that are creating demand on the service, determine the level of service depending on time and day of the week, and design an emergency response strategy, along with management structure and budget, for the most efficient use of resources. The review will include interviews of staff and council.
“I specifically want to make sure it’s comprehensive enough so when we’re done there’s no lingering questions left,” Orchard said.
After getting feedback from council on the draft RFP, Orchard said staff will now develop timelines for the work.
Orchard also presented council with a draft RFP for compensation and benefits package review of its eight senior managers. Council approved the review in a closed-door session in November 2012 after a report from James Hoare of Hoare Dalton Litigation and Valuation Services, of London, delivered a detailed review of expense accounts and use of county vehicles by senior management in a closed-door session with council.
The consultant will be asked to consider whether compensation is in line with comparables in the public sector and whether it is sufficient to attract and retain employees. As well, the consultant will be asked to review benefits like travel and meals.
