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Selectboard reviews ambulance budget, weighing EMS pay increases, new communication software and $16,500 pump bill
Summary
At a January special meeting the Northfield Selectboard reviewed the ambulance/EMS lines of the O&M budget, debated proposed part‑time pay increases (roughly 9–10%), considered adding Active911 mobile communications, and flagged a one‑time $16,500 invoice for medication pumps; no formal votes were recorded.
Unidentified Speaker 1 opened the meeting by directing the board to the ambulance budget (page 15) and asked the ambulance representative to walk through a wage request. Unidentified Speaker 3 said, “So currently, our beavers, are at $17.25,” and described a proposal that would raise first‑responder pay to about $18 and raise EMT and paramedic steps in staged increments, representing a roughly 9–10% increase overall.
Board members pressed for comparative data from neighboring towns. Unidentified Speaker 3 explained why the wage changes would spread across several budget lines — part time, run pay, nonemergency transfers and transfer crew — not just a single line item, and said the town uses an averaged wage calculation because staff certifications change from week to week.
The board discussed the town’s nonemergency transfer experiment and billing. Unidentified Speaker 3 said the UVM transfer center now coordinates many transfers, and “So we aren't getting the transfers that we used to when the transfer center wasn't used because we can't say yes as often,” describing how scheduling constraints reduce the town’s ability to accept transfer work. Jeff Spencer was identified in the discussion as the town’s billing contact who could pull detailed reports.
Members also considered a communications change. Unidentified Speaker 3 proposed adding Active911’s “active comms” feature, which she said costs "$5 a month per user" and estimated would be sized for about 50 users; she said the app can turn a phone into a radio when cellular service is available and could reduce the need for portable radios. Board members cautioned that coverage gaps exist in parts of town and that portables and mobile radios still work where cell service does not.
The ambulance presentation closed with an equipment note: the service acquired new medication pumps mid‑budget cycle and will face a July invoice. Unidentified Speaker 3 told the board “come July, they're gonna bill a $16,500” for the pumps already placed in trucks. Board members discussed whether that purchase should be capitalized rather than run through O&M.
There were no formal recorded votes on the ambulance items in the transcript. Board members requested comparative pay charts (regional EMS rates) and more detailed billing reports to show how nonemergency transfers and run pay correlate with revenue. The board recessed after concluding the ambulance segment and planned to return later in the meeting to continue O&M items.
