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Committee launches exploratory subcommittee after Fremont ambulance funding gap
Summary
Following word that Fremont voters rejected a warrant and private ambulance service changes, Brentwood committee voted to form a subcommittee to explore contractual options, costs and shared-service models after the town’s fire chief proposed taking on Fremont service.
The committee discussed Fremont’s recent failure to secure voter funding for ambulance service and the resulting service gap. Members said Fremont’s voters approved only a portion of the requested amount (reported $13,000 approved vs. a requested $70,000), prompting the town’s fire chief to explore alternatives including a direct contract or regionalized arrangements.
At the June 3 meeting, members agreed to create a working subcommittee comprising budget committee members, select-board representatives, the fire department and citizen participants to gather facts and options. The committee emphasized that the subcommittee’s role is exploratory: collect data on call volumes, billing, operating costs and legal constraints, not to advocate a predetermined outcome.
Speakers noted that mutual aid agreements are supplemental and cannot replace a primary service provider; contracting could bind Brentwood to costs it could be unable to carry if a partner community’s voters later reject related warrant articles. Members also discussed potential models — a direct contract, an RFP for private providers, or more formal regional/joint-department arrangements under RSA referenced in the meeting.
Next steps include a Friday meeting between two committee members and the Brentwood fire chief to assemble initial call-volume and billing data, after which the subcommittee will convene and review options in a public forum.
