Residents object to temporary EMS sleeping trailer; officials say it's needed for response times

Residents raised worries about the town’s plan to place a temporary trailer for ambulance crew sleeping quarters near Route 103 and the river, saying the unit is an eyesore and asking whether other sites were considered. Bob Brandt told the board he "looked over the crews’ quarters and agrees with the need. However, the location is just about onto Route 103 and as close to the water without being in the brook," and asked whether there would still be room for ambulances. Several other speakers, including Terry Rose and David Van Guilder Sr., said the trailer "does not look good" and urged relocation. Alan Couch asked whether locations such as Dorsey Park, West Hill or the industrial park had been evaluated.

Officials and members of the Building Committee defended the selection as a temporary safety measure to ensure crews can reach vehicles quickly. George Tucker, Jr., a member of the Building Committee, said the existing public safety building "can’t be reconfigured" to meet current needs and that the committee "looked at the current problems and looked to the future." Penny Wu told the board the trailer is intended to be short-term — "2 to 3 to 5 years" — and framed the decision as driven by liability concerns after seeing the current sleeping arrangements for EMS personnel. Chief Ben Whalen said there is room to accommodate two ambulances at the site and that a third ambulance would be rotated in from the West Hill building. The board did not take a formal vote on relocation; the public comments made clear optics and flood-plain concerns will be part of ongoing planning and the broader facility study work the board later approved.