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TORONTO -- A formal agreement allowing trained medical personnel with the city's fire department to assist the TEMS Joint Ambulance District and raises for many city personnel were among matters before Toronto Council on Monday.
At the request of TEMS Director Clark Crago, council approved an agreement by which trained emergency medical technicians and emergency medical responders with the fire department can be dispatched to calls when crews with the independent ambulance service are occupied elsewhere or provide assistance, when needed, on calls being handled by TEMS.
Council President Frank McEwen said the city's firefighters have aided fire departments outside the city, and a mutual aid agreement between the city department and TEMS has been considered in the past.
Crago said the agreement will call for the city personnel to follow protocols established for the ambulance service while providing legal protections for them when responding to calls outside Toronto.
He said the Toronto staff will remain within the city's budget but might undergo training with TEMS staff.
Asked whether TEMS and the fire department could seek grants or purchase equipment together, Crago said that's a possibility.
"Everything we do is to improve service to the community," he said.
Established in 2002, TEMS provides 24-hour ambulance service to the city, the villages of Empire and Stratton and Knox, Saline and Island Creek townships, with contracts for the latter two townships.
Crago confirmed the ambulance service is in talks with officials from Island Creek Township, where it serves Pottery Addition and Pleasant Hill, regarding renewal of its current contract, which ends in June.
Council also approved 3 percent raises, retroactive to Jan. 1, for the city's wastewater superintendent, assistant wastewater superintendent, public service director and assistant public service director, staff in the auditor's office, the secretary and dispatchers in the police department and the custodian for the municipal building.
Three percent raises for many other staff members were approved earlier.
In other business:
— A bid for the cleaning of the sludge lagoon for the city's wastewater plant was opened and referred to the city's board of controls for further review.
The board, which includes the mayor, city services director and safety director, has since agreed to reject the bid of about $950,000 as being too high.
Council's utilities committee will meet at 5 p.m. Monday to discuss advertising for the service again as well as the possible purchase of a backup generator for the city's water plant.
Second Ward Councilman Steve Sninchak, the committee's chairman, announced crews will be flushing hydrants on the following dates: May 15, Main south to Loretta and north to Freeman; May 16, Loretta south to Trenton and Freeman north to Myers; May 17, Trenton south to Federal and Myers north to Stewart; May 18, Federal to Dennis Way and Stewart north to Spring; and May 19, Dennis Way south to Fernwood.
— Councilman at large Ron Holmes, as chairman of the city services committee, reported city crews have installed a catch basin and 95 feet of French drain between the concession stand and the Little League ball field and will be adding 115 feet of pipe from the new basin to the alley in an effort to address recurring saturation there.
— Fourth Ward Councilman Greg Herrick, as chairman of the recreation committee, said a resident asked about establishing a pickleball court and the group is looking into adding markings to the tennis court at the War Memorial Park to accommodate that.
Herrick also announced the city's Easter egg hunt will be held at 1 p.m. April 8 at the War Memorial Park Shelter House near Ridge Avenue.
Open to children in grade 5 and under, the event is a collaboration among the city, Crossroads North River Church and the Toronto McDonald's.
— McEwen asked about pin oaks near the city's swimming pool being trimmed or removed, noting their droppings have clogged its filter in the past.
Mayor John Parker said some time ago, the city received an estimate of between $15,000 and $20,000 to remove each of them. He said lumber companies also were approached but they were concerned about risks to nearby homes.
McEwen suggested they at least be trimmed.