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Otis working group discusses transferring OEMS ambulance license and staffing options
Summary
At a Nov. 7 meeting, Otis Selectboard’s EMS Working Group heard that the state OEMS ambulance license may be transferable to the town, that ORS would need to settle debts and distribute assets to dissolve, and that mutual aid and grant funding could help staff any new operation.
The Town of Otis Selectboard EMS Working Group met Nov. 7 and discussed a possible transfer of the ambulance license regulated by the state Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) to town control, members said. Brittany Phair, a Working Group member, updated the group that the OEMS license could potentially be transferred to the town if required steps are completed; she said the ambulance’s name and the town’s local policies would need to be updated if the transfer proceeds.
The group reviewed organizational and legal steps the transcript cites as required for ORS to dissolve. According to ORS bylaws referenced during the discussion, ORS would need to settle outstanding debts and distribute assets to a separately established nonprofit to complete a dissolution, the meeting record states. The transcript indicates ORS must secure its own legal counsel; meeting participants noted the Town’s attorney cannot represent ORS in that process.
Members discussed service-level options if the town assumes operation. The working group examined transfer as a basic ambulance service now, with any upgrade to Advanced Life Support left as a future decision; no ALS application or final decision was made at this meeting.
On staffing, Rick Phair, a Working Group member, said the Otis Fire Department has a mutual aid agreement with the neighboring town of Monterey and that Monterey personnel could potentially supplement Otis staffing in the future. The group also discussed pursuing grant opportunities to support staffing needs but did not identify specific grants at this meeting.
Next steps, as summarized by the working group, are for ORS to consult legal counsel, for the town and working group to continue legal and budgetary planning related to any license transfer, and for staff to report back. Attendees recorded in the meeting were Gary Thomas, Terry Gould, Brandi Page, Chris Bouchard, Jeff Blanchard, Fred Freeman, Rick Phair and Brittany Phair. The meeting began at 6:30 PM and adjourned at 8:03 PM; the next meeting was to be scheduled after the holidays.
The transcript uses the initials “ORS” without spelling out that organization’s full name; the record did not identify the specific legal counsel ORS was expected to retain or list any grant programs by name. The working group did not take any formal votes during this session.
