Jim Planck is reporting in The Daily Mail Catskill town officials last week presented details as to why they feel maintaining the town's own ambulance department is both financially and operationally better for town residents and taxpayers. The other option available is to sign onto a proposed, independently operated countywide ambulance system. Catskill Ambulance Department Director George June told the crowd assembled the town's conclusion is that dismantling its own department, selling its equipment and transferring direct control of the operation to an independent not-for-profit agency was too big a risk to take with taxpayer dollars and the well-being of town residents. “What I found, is that the benefits of the countywide system to the town of Catskill residents is questionable,” June said. The Catskill Town Board voted in June 2014 to upgrade its ambulance department to paramedic level. Town boards countywide have through November to decide if they will participate in the county plan. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.