(A) Hearing on application.
(1) Upon receipt of application for franchise, the Board shall fix a time and place for hearing the applicant. A franchise shall not be granted unless the Board shall find, after the hearing, that public convenience and necessity require the proposed level of ambulance service applicant seeks to provide. In determining whether the public convenience and necessity require the operation of the proposed ambulance service for which the application for franchise is made, the Board will consider and investigate the statements made in the application, the adequacy of the existing ambulance service, the financial responsibility experience and character of the applicant.
(2) Other determining factors include the public need for additional service level applied by applicant, the ability of existing holders of certificates to provide any necessary additional service, and any other factors pertinent to such determination. Under no circumstance shall franchised operator offer a level of ambulance service for which it has neither applied nor qualified.
(B) Issuance of franchise. Upon finding that the public convenience and necessity require the proposed level of ambulance service for which applicant applied, the Board shall grant to the applicant a franchise on the terms and conditions described in this chapter; provided:
(1) The applicant complies with all provisions of this chapter;
(2) The ambulance(s) proposed to be operated under said franchise shall be found to meet the requirements identified in the General Statutes enacted 1-1-2002 and adopted by the NC DHHS or a representative thereof; and
(3) There are no unappealed unsatisfied judgments of record against the applicant.
(Ord. passed 9-7-2004)