The Town of Gardiner board discussed the future of its ambulance service at a regular town meeting Tuesday, considering a proposal that would allow several ambulances to be shared across Ulster County to provide both basic and advanced life support.

The proposal was presented by Ulster County EMS Coordinator Richard Miller and Charles Rock, Gardiner’s ambulance district commissioner.

“We want to provide layers of service to the communities that we are, but use them in a way that not only benefits the county, right?” Miller said. “Because we’re keeping our residents safe, but it also benefits the towns because they’re not shuffling around trying to find people that are going to be able to give them the service.”

Rock said that under the new regional system, the New Paltz Rescue Squad would provide 24-hour, seven-day-a-week basic and advanced life support ambulance service.

“That sounds great,” Town Supervisor Michael Hartner said. “I was bracing myself.”

Previously, Gardiner operated its own basic life support ambulances staffed by volunteer members, while outside providers such as the New Paltz Rescue Squad supplied advanced life support service.

Under the new proposal, Gardiner would gain access to eight ambulances through the regional system. In the event of a major crash, fire or other emergency, multiple vehicles would be available. The system would also guarantee advanced life support service for the town while still allowing Gardiner’s Fire District to operate its own ambulance service if the board chooses.

Under the plan, the Fire District would determine whether a response call requires basic or advanced life support. A dispatcher would then determine which ambulance to send to the scene based on that protocol.

“If it was a call that somebody has broke their leg, the dispatcher would know I’m not sending ALS there,” Hartner said. “I’m sending BLS there.”

However, the board said it remained unclear on certain financial aspects of the proposal. The expected cost is a 2% increase in the budget, which would be offset by additional county funding.

The plan also calls for billing patients’ insurance after ambulance transport, with funds returning to the regional EMS system to help reduce costs for Gardiner taxpayers. But officials noted an unresolved issue: if Gardiner’s basic life support ambulance transports a patient, the advanced life support system might not be able to bill for the trip, resulting in offset costs.

Both the board and Miller acknowledged the problem remains unresolved. They agreed the relevant wording would be reviewed by the board’s attorney and revised before moving forward.