Council boosts ambulance subsidy, raises wildlife rehab funding and approves community grants changes

Westerly — During a lengthy subsidies review on April 9, councilors approved several changes to the town’s community service funding sheet, prioritizing emergency medical services, wildlife rescue and local arts programming.

Ambulance subsidy: Councilors increased the annual town subsidy to the Westerly Ambulance Corps by $50,000 (to $250,000) after hearing about the group’s grant‑funded “mobile integrated health” pilot, which places a paramedic into residents’ homes to manage chronic care and reduce repeat hospital trips. The ambulance representative described the program as grant funded and noted the challenge that crews cannot yet bill Medicaid/Medicare for those in‑home services; councilors asked for concrete cost figures and agreed they could adjust the subsidy later if needed.

Wildlife rehab: The council voted 5–2 to increase the town’s award to a regional wildlife rehabilitator from the prior year’s level to $5,000 after staff reported the clinic treated 174 animals from Westerly in 2025 and cited higher veterinary costs following a rough winter.

Arts and events: Councilors also debated a $5,000 request from the Up Next music festival and ultimately reallocated an existing $5,000 line previously directed to the Flock Theater, then voted to add Up Next at $5,000 as a new line. The reallocations were approved by roll/voice vote. The manager reminded councilors that subsidy applicants must file applications and quarterly expense reports to receive payments.

Why it matters: the ambulance subsidy increase supports local EMS capacity and an emerging in‑home care pilot, wildlife funding supports animal rescue services used by town responders, and the Up Next allocation signals local investment in community arts events.

Next steps: staff will supply the ambulance program’s budget detail on request; subsidy recipients will continue to submit quarterly expense reports to earn scheduled payments.