The Board of Directors at Valley Emergency Medical Service (Valley EMS) voted Jan. 14 to make the executive director’s position part time.
In addition, the board created a new position, “operations manager,” and they’ll be hiring a finance director to look at the books.
It is designed to “provide additional patient care resources and clinical oversight,” according to a statement from Jason Perillo, the agency’s interim executive director.
Perillo, who is also a Republican representing Shelton in the state House of Representatives, was appointed executive director in November, following the resignation of Robert Pettinella.
Valley EMS sends paramedics to help with ambulance calls. They’re able to assist with “advanced life support” care, as it’s called in the medical field.
Perillo appeared on the Jan. 25 episode of “Valley Navel Gazing,” the Valley Indy’s radio show.
He talked extensively about the reorganization at Valley EMS.
The full interview is posted below.
The executive director’s position previously paid $115,000. It now pays $39,000, Perillo said.
Valley EMS is a nonprofit agency. The changes happened after its board of directors appointed a committee to study reorganization options.
“It is better to put money into operations and patient care at this stage in VEMS’s evolution, rather than office functions,” Perillo said.
Valley EMS will also hire a part-time finance director “to provide greater oversight” of the agency’s finances.
“While we have never had issues with financial mismanagement, we have seen it happen in some Valley towns,” Perillo said. “Creating the new position will be a ‘belt and suspenders’ approach to safeguarding our finances.”
Valley Emergency Medical Service was formed in 1984 to provide paramedic services to the towns of Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton. The company responds to approximately 7,000 calls for medical assistance annually.
