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Selectboard approves $1.39 million town contribution to WHEMS as calls, staffing needs rise
Summary
Wells approved a $1,393,780 contribution to Wells EMS after hearing that call volumes and staffing gaps had increased costs; EMS leaders said the rise is driven by converting positions to full time and adding a tenth full‑time employee.
The Wells selectboard approved a $1,393,780 town contribution to Wells EMS after department leaders detailed rising demand and staffing shortfalls.
Steve Merrill, director of EMS, and Adam Kavanagh, assistant director, told the board the service’s budget rose from under $900,000 last year to just under $1.4 million this year. The increase reflects moving more employees to full‑time status and adding a 10th position, which drives up medical‑insurance and benefit costs. "We currently have nine full‑time and are adding one more," Adam Kavanagh said when the board asked about full‑time staffing.
The EMS leaders also highlighted operational pressures: call volumes fluctuate but have generally increased (121 runs were reported in the last month). They noted staffing shortages—"at the beginning of March they told us that they were 38 shifts short"—and rising uncompensated costs, including collections sent to outside agencies.
Board members asked for clarifications about line items and totals because printed handouts showed slightly different figures; staff confirmed the motion amount before the vote. The board moved and approved the requested contribution after that clarification.
The approval allows WHEMS to proceed with staffing and equipment plans tied to the higher operational baseline; separate CIP requests for a leased ambulance, a pickup to tow a donated mass‑casualty trailer, and upgraded airway‑management video scopes were discussed separately and will be acted on in budget/CIP votes.
