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Select Board hears updates on regional ambulance study, co-responder costs and emergency‑center planning
Summary
Staff reported a regional ambulance study with UMass Collins Center and noted a co‑responder salary planning figure of about $100,000 plus benefits; the board directed staff to review emergency‑management plans for warming and cooling centers and communications.
Town staff told the Select Board that a regional ambulance service study, conducted with the Collins Center at UMass, is underway and that staff expect an update in August. The study examines regionalization options and potential cost‑sharing with neighboring towns.
“We have...a regional study with UMass that is moving forward,” staff said, noting prior pauses caused by consultant availability. Staff also described a co‑responder program cost estimate — roughly a $100,000 salary plus benefits — and said the town would need to explore funding models and regional partners before committing.
On emergency‑operations preparedness, staff recommended updating the town’s emergency-management plan to define the town’s role in warming and cooling centers, assess backup power needs for critical buildings (some lack generators), and clarify communications channels (email lists, CodeRED, signage) so residents know where to go in extended outages or wildfire smoke events.
