As an employee of United Ambulance, I would like to draw your attention to an important issue coming before the City Council. This issue will not only affect the citizens and taxpayers of Lewiston but would also affect the livelihood of many devoted United Ambulance Service employees.

Due to the over-zealous desires of your city administrator, Jim Bennett, there is the possibility of the Lewiston Fire Department adding ambulance service. As many city officials have said, the city is not in the business of competing with the private sector. United Ambulance provides ambulance transport very well and for the past 22 years has done this without any contribution for Lewiston.

In the scope of councilors’ duties, they have to make important decisions that affect the lives of the employees of the city. There have been many job cuts.

This latest move would affect not only city workers, but the 100 employees of a private business. In today’s economy, it doesn’t seem fair to risk the jobs of many dedicated employees to duplicate a service.

Adding ambulance service will create enormous costs to city taxpayers. City residents would have to carry the costs for vehicles, equipment, storage, training and added personnel.

How will people who have lost city jobs and their relatives feel when Mr. Bennett hires approximately 26 new people?

Councilors should have all the facts before allowing the city to compete with a private company that does an exemplary job in providing emergency medical care.

David H. Reed, Auburn

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