Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Stoddard budget includes modest fire increases and higher ambulance contract; truck reserve remains underfunded
Summary
The Select Board proposed a $142,000 fire budget and reduces the annual fire-truck CRF contribution to $50,000 despite a $165,000 balance and an estimated truck cost above $500,000. Ambulance service costs rose to $65,900 under a phased contract with Swanzey; residents reported mixed response times.
The Select Board presented modest increases in the Fire Department operating budget while proposing changes to capital contributions and a new equipment purchase.
The Fire Department operating budget is proposed at $142,000, and the board recommended reducing the annual contribution to the Fire Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund from $55,000 to $50,000; minutes note the fund balance is about $165,000, well short of an estimated replacement cost exceeding $500,000. Select Board members discussed the need for a clearer timeline and funding strategy for vehicle replacement.
An article was proposed to purchase a $10,000 extractor and dryer to clean contaminated turnout gear, a fire-marshal requirement. The minutes record the plan to install the extractor in the Gould House cellar to avoid potentially costly septic modifications to the firehouse; the exact cost was described as an estimate that may change before Town Meeting.
Ambulance service costs increased to $65,900 under a phased-in contract with Swanzey, described as a fixed fee that covers availability rather than per-call billing; residents still receive bills after use. Residents reported mixed response times, with an average described as about 20 minutes but individual reports exceeding 30 minutes; some asked the board to press the provider to locate an ambulance closer.
Board members noted the budget should reflect the higher volume of emergency medical calls relative to fires; the Select Board requested follow-up on response-time data and whether Swanzey can station an ambulance nearer town to improve coverage.
