Crafton Borough Will Soon Choose EMS Provider

This is a re-post of a comment left on a previous post:

Residents of Crafton: This week Crafton Council will be having presentations from prospective EMS Providers on Thursday February 11, 2010 at 6:30 pm at the Community Center. All those who have shown appreciation for the 24 hour professional in community service that has been in place for the last 6 months are asked to attend. Those of you who didn't understand the issues and why the contract was opened in the first place are also encouraged to attend.

Crafton Watch Comments:

Remember prior to Northwest EMS being chosen as the EMS provider in August 2009 Robinson EMS (REMS) did not provide 24 hour service. However, now that the 2010 council has moved to open this issue up, simply for political reasons, REMS will likely match any service provided by Northwest. It's unfortunate that an important service such as this has been politicized by a handful of council. Northwest has provided superior 24 hour service and significantly reduced call times. Council voted 6-3 to cancel Northwest's contract and open the floor for new proposals. Jack Donovan, Debbie Sappie and Doug Johnston voted against it.

You'll hear folks like President Cindric make quotes like this one "It will give council the ability to review other options." Keep in mind though that back in July when it was approved to bring Northwest to Crafton, Mr. Cindric voted against it.

Don't be fooled, demand great service and response times. Speak Up and attend the meeting. The info below speaks for it self.

This is a report provided by Northwest EMS to the residents of Crafton Borough:

• Since the start of operations on 8/5/09, we have answered 270 emergency calls in Crafton.
• Our overall average response time in the Borough is 3.5 minutes.
• Crafton Borough now has the fastest EMS response times in Allegheny County.
• Of the 270 total calls, 76 occurred between the hours of 11p-7a.
• Approximately 28% of the emergencies in Crafton occurred between the hours of 11pm and 7am— That is approximately 1 in 4 emergencies in the community.
• Crafton residents did not have an ambulance staffed in the community during the hours 11pm to 7am until— NorthWest EMS proved it was possible.
• Now that you have a NorthWest EMS ambulance staffed in the community during those hours…..you now get an ambulance— in an average of 3 minutes during the hours of 11pm to 7am.
• NorthWest demonstrated our ability to cover major incidents such as a motor vehicle accident on W. Steuben which required—4 ambulances and an EMS supervisor.
• Another example of our ability to assist the community is when a major fire on Afton Avenue occurred. This incident required—3 ambulances and an EMS supervisor.
• NorthWest EMS has the most resources available to meet all of your needs. No other EMS provider can match our ability to deliver the fastest and most professional care to you.

Neighboring community EMS average response times:

• Carnegie Borough: 4 minutes
• Collier Township: 5 minutes
• Ingram Borough: 6 minutes
• Robinson Township: 7 minutes
• Greentree Borough: 8 minutes
• Rosslyn Farms: 8.5 minutes
• City of Pittsburgh: 10 minutes

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Fraud Alert - Mystery Shopper

A resident reports that her daughter was the victim of a fraud. She reports that her daughter told her about a letter she received along with a check from a company calling itself MSC Marketing Logistics. This company stated in the letter that the victim had expressed interest in becoming a "Mystery Shopper" and if she still wanted to do this all she had to do was cash the enclosed check and they enclosed a check for $2,950.00. After she deposited the check she had to call a number and receive her first assignment within 24 hours. The victim did this on Friday January 15, 2010 and received instructions to make a purchase and evaluate the company and forward the receipt to the company. The victim did this and called them back. The second assignment she got was to try and send $2,250.00 by moneygram to an address that they gave her. She was told that any amount over $2,000 should be denied as Moneygram does not allow any amount over that to be wired. She was instructed that if the retailer accepts the money that she should let it go through but to get the persons name and contact them for disciplinary purposes.The victim did this and the money was accepted and wired to England. When the victim attempted to contact the company again she did not get an answer and tried to do so for three days before advising anybody what happened. Then on Thursday January 21, 2010 the victim was advised by the bank that the check was fraudulent and was declined. The victims bank account was cleaned out and because her father's name was also on the account all of his other accounts were frozen by the bank as well.

Through contact with Moneygram by the victim it was discovered that their policy is not to send any amount over $3,500.00. The bank advised them that it usually takes 10-14 days for a check to actually clear, but most banks make funds available in 24 hours as a courtesy to their customer.

You should be aware that if any job offer requires you to allow someone access to your bank account or for you to send them money should be considered by you to be a scam. If the victim had taken the time to check the policy of the Moneygram company that are posted in each store she may have noticed that something was wrong. The victim is working with the bank, the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney General to see if they can help with this matter. If you receive a letter or email that feel may be a scam please contact any of the above agencies anmd the Crafton Police.

Information obtained from Crime Watch Alert email

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Report a Pot-Hole in Crafton on the Map

Click on the map to add a pot-hole location.

> Read more here

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Masked Man Robs 5 In Crafton Bar - Mug Shots

CRAFTON, Pa. -- Police are investigating after a masked man robbed five people inside a Crafton bar early Monday morning. Read more from the local news below.

• WTAE News
• WPXI News

If you have any information, you're asked to call police.

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Reorganization Meeting - Prediction Comes True

Crafton Council reorganized last night and left many people wondering WTF......

However, it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that Ed Stewart was appointed to council, filling Mayor Bloom's vacant 3rd ward seat. If you attended the meeting you noticed this was a very calculated effort on the part of a few council members, even a few newly elected members. Mayor Bloom did an excellent job exposing Mr. Cindric's lie when questioned about Mr. Stewart's name being on documents he prepared for the meeting. Watch a replay of the council meeting Thursday night at 8 p.m.

Note to Mr. Stewart: You're old, spend time with your friends and family. You weren't reelected for a reason. Maybe you'll remember to attend council meetings.....

Yes, the council that is so good at stating how much they want to work for the residents of the borough, voted to cancel the contract with North West as the borough EMS provider. They'll solicit RFPs and hopefully make a decision that provides the residents of Crafton with 24x7 EMS coverage.

I'd like to thank Mr Cindric for abstaining from casting a vote on the "official borough paper" motion since a family member works for the Post Gazette. Did you forget Mr. Cindric that you're on the REMS board? Why did you cast a vote to cancel the NW EMS contract?

The 2010 borough budget was also reopened...... Remember, there "was" a surplus, let's see what happens...... Maybe that surplus will increase when a few members of council have their way with the CVFD budget......

The majority of you council members are an absolute disgrace to this borough. The wool you've pulled over the residents eyes in the past will be removed and your lies will be exposed.

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Crafton Council Reorganization Meeting 1/4/2010

Crafton Council will reorganize and swear in the newly elected members of council and mayor.

You can read the agenda on the borough website.

A few important items to note in the agenda.

• James Bloom will resign and the floor will be open for nomination. The borough is excepting letters of interest. They have received a few letters and they include; Ed Stewart, Jim Christman, and Angelo Rullo, among others.
• Under the section "Appointments" council will have the power to reappoint REMs as the boroughs official EMS provider even thought Northwest currently provides 24x7 coverage in the borough, unlike REMs.
• Council will make a motion to reopen the 2010 budget. 2 current members of council are looking to cut funding for the Crafton Volunteer Fire Department.

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2010 Predictions

So I'm going to go out on a limb here and make three predictions for next year (wink).

• Prediction 1: Susan O'Connell who lost the mayor's seat last month will be appointed to the vacant seat on council when the newly elected independent Taylor Grapes resigns.
• Prediction 2: Ed Stewart will be appointed to Jim Bloom's vacant council seat.
• Prediction 3: Chief Harold Rost resigns....

This shouldn't be of any great surprise to anyone as this is typical of how the borough is run. You highly intelligent voters in Crafton have yet realize that the people you vote for are at best, incompetent.

So you made a good choice by electing Jim Bloom as Mayor, Susan had clearly failed at the post. However, I'm not sure what the rational was that made you folks elect Taylor Grapes, let alone Tom Phillips whom I don't believe was event registered or had voted prior to this year.

So with that said, the police department will be run more efficiently but the borough, well thats up in the air.

I hope my predictions are wrong, well sort of.....

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