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County extends consultant contract for EMS regionalization after consultant reports interest from multiple communities
Summary
Commissioners approved a six-month contract extension for consultant Paul Froman to continue work on regionalizing fire and EMS services; Froman reported meetings with more than 20 communities and progress forming a Central Maine Highlands Fire & EMS district.
The Penobscot County Commissioners voted Jan. 21 to extend a six-month contract for consultant Paul Froman to continue facilitating collaboration among municipal fire and emergency medical services. County staff said the extension will be funded from account G299618, described in the meeting as related to federal funds for the unorganized territory, and estimated the six-month expense at about $45,500.
Froman told commissioners he has spent about five months working to convene municipal leaders, fire chiefs and managers across the county and that he has met with more than 20 communities or agencies showing some interest in collaboration. He said the Central Maine Highlands Fire District, a formalized fire district formed under state enabling authority, is now in its first budget cycle after about five months of operation and that several other groups across southern and northern parts of the county are holding preliminary conversations.
Commissioners noted the county and other Maine counties face staffing, funding and regulatory pressures, and several members said the district model may become more attractive if volunteer departments are constrained by new occupational-safety rules. Froman and staff said they have begun preparing grant applications to Maine’s covering agencies to help offset county expenditures for regionalization work.
After the presentation, a motion to extend Froman’s contract was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. Commissioners asked staff to finalize the contract paperwork and to provide expense detail and continued status updates to the board.
Froman said some municipalities are cautious about regionalization and that work will require negotiation and time; he proposed beginning spring work to address identified infrastructure (roads/turnarounds) and budget questions with interested towns.
The contract-extension motion passed by voice vote; staff will return with finalized costs and written updates.
