HIGHLAND — The Town Board of Highland finalized their agreement with the new Highland Ambulance services by signing a contract that would allow the new ambulance corps to resume services in place of the American Legion at an emergency meeting held on December 21.

The full transition is expected to be complete by the end of January.

At the time of signing, it was planned for the new Ambulance Service to take over completely on the first of the year. However, according to Town Supervisor Jeff Haas, the town and the American Legion extended the deadline to January 31 in order to allow more time for the full transfer of service vehicles, medical equipment, and other necessary equipment and qualifications from the former provider of the services, the American Legion, to the new Highland Ambulance Corps.

According to Haas, the deadline was extended also in part to allow the new ambulance corps to promote new leadership within the corps and gather the many other necessary paperwork and qualifications.

“Moving forward, nothing really changes for our residents, whatsoever,” Haas said, as residents of the town are not expected to see any significant changes in their accessibility to or quality of the medical emergency services provided to the town. This is due to an agreement between the American Legion Post and the new ambulance corps for the total transfer of personnel, equipment, buildings and emergency vehicles used by the American Legion prior. All of these components will just be under the new name of the Highland Ambulance Corps.

Haas predicts the full transition on the 31st will be ‘seamless.’

“The ambulance taxing district will be formed by March 1,” Haas explained, as the process is still ongoing.

Chris Tambini, President of the newly formed Highland Ambulance Corps, told the Democrat that the preparation in taking over for the American Legion has been a great deal of work, but that the American Legion has been helpful in the transfer process. “We have to work together to make this all happen,” Tambini said. “We have to work as a team.”