CCHD should maintain its focus

In response to the Viewpoint by Barbara Bronson Gray (current incumbent running for re-election) Cambrian Opinion Section, Sept. 1, 2016. It appears that Gray doesn’t quite have her facts straight. The CCHD board is in agreement that it would be wonderful to have expanded health care services in Cambria. Who wouldn’t love to see their own doctor or specialist relocate to Cambria and to have X-rays or other services available right here in our home town. Is it possible? Maybe, but many factors will come into play, No. 1 being your health insurance provider.

Gray obviously hasn’t been listening to the past board meetings when concerns were raised over the distribution of the health care survey and the need for it to reach all of the residents within our district. All residents, not just homeowners, not just English-speaking residents, not just one member of a family, but everyone in the entire district. The survey was not an adequate representation of the community.

As for her attempt to instill fear into the clients who have Community Healthcare Center (CHC) as their primary care provider … shame on you Trustee Gray! There are not any current plans that I know of to relocate this office or to close this office. Nor has any decision been made to even sell the property.

The focus should be to keep our ambulances up and running and to ensure that our district has adequate revenues each month to maintain all operational expenses. We as trustees have a vested interest in closely monitoring the financial stability of the district. The primary focus of the CCHD should be the responsible oversight of our required operational expenditures. If this focus is not maintained, the district may not be able to meet its expenses.

I urge all residents of the district to call the district office — 805-927-8304 — and schedule a tour of the ambulance crew quarters and parking area. We have a state-of-the-art $280,000 ambulance being exposed to the elements 24/7. Crew quarters are in drastic need of updates, as our four-person crews are using a kitchen smaller than most bathrooms. Tiny sleeping quarters double as storage for equipment.

Currently, ambulance crews respond onto Main Street 24/7, which has heavy pedestrian traffic and oftentimes tourists unfamiliar with Cambria in their automobiles. This requires the ambulances to go slow and make risky maneuvers, creating a potential delay in the vital response time.

I would urge all residents to visit the ambulance quarters, attend our board meetings and to ask questions to the administrative staff and the Board of Trustees to determine the truth as they see it. Placing fear in the minds of CCHD residents is no way to run a campaign. The truth is out there.

This story was originally published September 7, 2016 at 9:54 AM with the headline "CCHD should maintain its focus."