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Local ambulance services seek higher town support; Ashray awarded $344,000 congressional grant for new station
Summary
Full Valley Ambulance and Ashray Ambulance asked the council for modest increases (Full Valley asked to go to '72'; Ashray sought an increase toward 74,000), described staffing, call volumes and reimbursement challenges, and Ashray announced a $344,000 congressional grant to help build a three-bay station.
Pat Hawkins, speaking for Full Valley Ambulance and as a town resident, asked the Town Council to raise the town contribution to the ambulance to "72," matching what the town of Richmond provides. Hawkins said Full Valley runs about 1,589 calls with 174 assists last year, operates two ambulances and staffs two providers 24/7, and is struggling with billing and membership revenue timing.
Hawkins described operational costs and recent grant activity and discussed switching billing providers; members explored a short-term cash-flow option such as advancing a quarterly town payment to help the service bridge the transition.
Eric Parn, treasurer for Ashray Ambulance, presented his service's call statistics (712 incidents in 2025, a 92.1% response rate) and summarized recent grants: an Ela Morgan Senate grant for $20,000, a Brian Patrick Kennedy grant for $4,000, a Firehouse Subs grant for $18,715, and an Ocean State Charities Trust matching effort. Parn announced that Ashray recently received a $344,000 congressional grant to support a planned three-bay station; the service plans to fundraise and borrow additional amounts for construction.
Parn also said equipment needs include new monitors (estimated $40,000—5,000 each) and that one ambulance is an older 2012 model with rising maintenance costs. Council members discussed long-term options such as district funding, the challenges of sustaining grant-funded programs (including caution about the mobile-integrated-health model if ongoing town funding would be required), and whether the town could provide an advance payment to ease cash flow.
No formal appropriation was made at the meeting; council members signaled willingness to consider advances or other transitional support while finalizing the full budget.
