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Select Board approves ambulance contracts, urges long-term regionalization plan
Summary
The Select Board approved updated ambulance contracts with seven neighboring communities reflecting July 1 rate increases tied to staffing. Members and staff said the per-call billing model and recent staffing changes address short-term costs but underscored that a regional EMS district is needed for sustainable long-term service.
The Plymouth Select Board on Monday approved ambulance service contracts with Holderness, Ashland, Bridgewater, Dorchester, Rumney, Warren and Wentworth, while members pressed for a broader regional approach to stabilize emergency medical services funding.
Town Manager Kevin Pierce told the board the nine contracts across seven communities reflect increased staffing and equipment costs that take effect July 1. "The increase is based on distance and recall for coverage," Pierce said, explaining the per-call billing model that the town adopted to avoid subsidizing other towns’ calls.
Board members discussed an Ashland retainer fee that covers limited daytime hours and asked for clarity on how cancelations, response-time retones and distance-based billing will be recorded. Chief (functional_label) said the current model is a necessary short-term fix but is "temporary and not sustainable for our organization and community," and pushed for exploration of an EMS district model to spread costs across a tax base.
Under the contracts, partner towns are billed per call at a rate intended to recover costs without creating a net profit for the town. Pierce said the goal is to break even rather than generate revenue: "We're committed at that point; there is no help. We're already driving into their communities," he said, describing the six-minute reton policy that begins simultaneous dispatches.
The board approved a motion to authorize signatures and finalize the agreements. Members asked staff to continue outreach and to pursue legislative and governance options for regionalization, including a potential EMS district under RSA 52 that would establish a dedicated tax base and shared governance structure.
Next steps: contracts will be signed and take effect according to the dates in the documents, and staff will report back on progress toward regional cooperation and any recommended policy or legislative steps.
