Subject:
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Appointments/reappointments to the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council.
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Recommended Action:
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Sitting as the Emergency Medical Services Authority, approve the following appointments/reappointments to the Emergency Medical Services Authority Council (EMSAC) for two-year terms starting September 2026 and ending August 2028.
• Appoint Chief Bill Gorham as the City of Clearwater Fire Chief’s primary representative. Chief Gorham is the EMS Chief.
• Reappoint Fire Chief Chad Pittman as the City of Clearwater Fire Chief’s alternate representative.
• Appoint Dr. Deanna Stentiford as the St. Petersburg College (SPC) President’s primary representative. Dr. Stentiford is SPC’s Dean College of Health Sciences.
• Appoint Ralph Sibbio as SPC’s President’s alternate representative. Mr. Sibbio is SPC’s Director of EMS Education & Training.
• A voice vote will suffice.
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Background Information:
The Council was created by Chapter 80-585, Laws of Florida, and is made up of 24 members that constitute a broad spectrum of county representation. It is the responsibility of Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (EMSAC) to fulfill the objectives outlined in the bylaws under Article II, Section 2.1. It is the responsibility of this council to evaluate the County’s Emergency Medical Services system from a qualitative point of view, to review the operations of EMS on a countywide basis, to recommend requirements and programs for the contract management firm and monitor performance of same, to review and evaluate studies commissioned by the Authority upon the Authority’s request, and to make sure recommendations as may be necessary to the Authority on needs, problems, and opportunities relating to emergency medical services, including the financing and establishment of a trauma center or centers, and to carry out such other duties as may be required to ensure the delivery of good countywide EMS at reasonable cost.
Twenty-four members appointed by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners acting as the EMS Authority. Members constitute a broad spectrum of the County representation and shall include members of the Emergency Medical Services system and four mayors to be appointed by the Pinellas County Council of Mayors. The term of appointment shall be for two years; however, there is no limit on the number of terms an individual may serve. The Director of Emergency Medical Services for Pinellas County shall be a non-voting member of the Council. The details of the selection process of the various appointed positions are included in the EMS Advisory Council Bylaws, Section 3.1.
Attachments:
EMS Advisory Council Roster
Chief Gorham’s Resume 2026
Chief Pittman’s Bio 2026
Dr. Stentiford’s CV 2026
Mr. Sibbio’s Resume 2026
Partner(s):
EMS Advisory Council