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Select board adopts emergency plan, hears EMS regionalization update and reviews sheriff contract increase
Summary
The board adopted the 2026 local emergency management plan, heard an EMS regionalization briefing about strained rescue squads and possible mergers, and discussed a sheriff contract increase that would raise annual costs by about $19,824 if left unchanged.
The select board adopted the town’s 2026 Local Emergency Management Plan and received updates on regional emergency medical services and law-enforcement contracting.
Paul Danzro (speaker 13) presented the emergency management plan required by state statute, noting updates to the town office location and select board membership. The board moved to adopt the 2026 plan and approved it by voice vote.
Town administrator Paula Eiken (speaker 7) briefed the board on a Bennington Rescue Squad task force exploring regionalization with neighboring squads to pool resources amid shrinking post‑COVID budgets and stretched coverage. Eiken said discussions are preliminary but that any merger or pooling could affect coverage patterns and response times for southern Shaftesbury; she recommended continued engagement with neighboring towns and squads.
In other business, member (speaker 7) reported receiving the sheriff contract after the budget was set; a proposed rate of $88 per hour for 24 hours per week would increase the town’s annual contract cost roughly $19,824. Board members discussed whether to renegotiate weekly-hours coverage with the sheriff as a way to manage the added cost and noted the sheriff’s office has been an important resource for the town.
No changes to the sheriff contract were adopted at the meeting; the board asked staff to continue discussions with the sheriff’s office and to report options back to the board.
