It’s unfortunate that a secret Medic 7 meeting, between three of four board members who knew better, is clouding over the real problems within the troubled organization. But the three south Snohomish County cities and their councils that comprise Medic 7 shouldn’t let it stop them from coming up with solutions that are best for their respective cities.
Late last month Edmonds Mayor Gary Haakenson told those attending a Medic 7 meeting that he and two other board members had felt they needed to have a "healthy discussion" without Lynnwood City Council member Don Gough. Haakenson later admitted that the meeting was inappropriate and that the "way to remedy that is to announce it took place." Such admissions are admirable, but honest, open behavior in the first place is better than sincere apologies afterward.
That said, it would be a mistake to focus on the meeting instead of the real issues surrounding the organization. Medic 7 used to consist of five member cities, but Mountlake Terrace and Brier opted out last summer in order to save money and provide faster service. The remaining 16 paramedics who serve Lynnwood, Edmonds and Woodway are in the process of trying to integrate into the respective cities. But whether to keep the Medic 7 board alive is a question that has deeply divided Lynnwood and Edmonds.
The issue has been troubling not only to the two cities but to the paramedics waiting to hear their fates. They’ve reportedly sided with Edmonds and want to disband the small board. It’s time for the bickering to stop so these paramedics can go about their jobs and the citizens can receive fast, effective service. It’s also time to put a stop to excuses. Board member Gough insists his exclusion was a slap in the face of Lynnwood residents and was nothing personal. But all the information suggests otherwise. While the Medic 7 Paramedic Association didn’t approve of the secret meeting, President Dave Clark said he could understand why the three board members did it.
"I feel Mayor Haakenson has bent over backward to accommodate Medic 7 and the city of Lynnwood and their needs," Clark said in March. "But I don’t feel the effort to cooperate is reciprocated."
That comment, and the fact that three members believed they couldn’t have a successful discussion with Gough present, should serve as a really big wake-up call to Gough and the Lynnwood City Council.
Until that happens, the integration process is left in limbo, along with the paramedics and the people who rely upon their service.
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