CAMDEN — In a news release issued Monday afternoon, June 17, the two emergency medical services that were competing for contracts with Camden, Hope, Lincolnville and Rockport announced that they were cooperating to assure coverage through a transition period.

"Noting that patient care is their highest priority, Chief Julia Libby of the Camden First Aid Association and Chief Kevin McGinnis of North East Mobile Health Services met on Friday, June 14, and agreed to create a transition plan for uninterrupted, continuous, quality emergency medical services for the residents of Camden, Rockport, Lincolnville and part of Hope," the release said. "The meeting was also attended by other CFAA and NEMHS officials."

The two entities said that a transition period is to be established and a transition team effort, consisting of representatives of the two services and the towns, initiated. During that transition period, the two services are to share response to calls and staff "in a way to gradually increase NEMHS' handling of calls, while CFAA gradually decreases its role," the release said.

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In a discussion at Lincolnville's annual town meeting on Saturday, June 15, Libby told citizens that CFAA needs $90,000 a month to cover payroll expenses and overhead. At all four town meetings, citizens voted to pursue a contract with North East.

"This transition process will be marked by a spirit of mutual cooperation with both services working to ensure that continued emergency medical response is available," the release said.

North East is based in Scarborough and has various bases in southern Maine, and in Rockport. The for-profit North East is the service that a four-town review team recommended to be the area's EMS service following Camden First Aid's mounting fiscal problems, and that nonprofit's appeal to the towns for dramatic subsidy increases.

"We have interviewed a number of great CFAA staff members this past week and expect to smoothly integrate those we hire over the transition period," said McGinnis, in the release. "I look forward to working with Chief Libby to making this transition work for our patients and staff."

McGinnis did not say how many staff members would be hired. Until this month, Camden First Aid had eight full-time employees, plus Libby, and seven or eight part-time personnel.

"CFAA fully supports this undertaking and intends to maintain our prompt and effective medical, life-saving services until the last day of our existence," said Libby.

There has been now announcement as to what will happen to the nonprofit's facility on John Street, and whether North East would acquire the real estate.

Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 706-6657.