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EMS representatives tell commission charter text and ambulance funding should be reviewed
Summary
EMS leaders told the commission that existing ordinance text does not reflect current EMS operations, described town support for dispatching and paramedic contracts, and outlined ambulance capital costs and fundraising roles.
Representatives of the volunteer EMS service asked the Charter Review Commission to review ordinance language and consider whether a brief charter statement — not detailed operational rules — should reflect EMS oversight and coordination with the town.
An EMS representative described a funding and operational relationship in which the town pays for a paramedic contract and dispatching through the regional communication center while the volunteer service covers many expenses through fundraising. The representative said the town budgeted “284” and that the ambulance procurement ultimately required “294” — the transcript does not specify monetary units — and added that additional listed costs included 21,000 for radios, 30,000 for a power loader and another roughly 12,000–15,000 for vehicle outfitting, some of which the EMS organization covered through donations.
The EMS representative said the ambulance itself is town property and that the town plans capital budgeting and occasional reimbursements; smaller maintenance tasks are sometimes handled by the town garage or local vendors. The commission discussed whether operational detail belongs in bylaws and ordinances (easier to amend) or whether a brief charter entry should capture the town’s oversight responsibilities for EMS.
EMS leaders asked the commission to consult the ordinance committee for updates to outdated ordinance language; commissioners indicated they would do so and to consider limited charter wording that would reflect the town’s understanding of EMS mission and oversight without locking operational bylaws in place.
No formal charter change was adopted at the meeting; EMS offered to provide suggested language and to meet with the commission and ordinance committee for follow-up.
