Newport
Though advisory only, according to Selectboard Chairman Gary Nichols, several residents spoke in support of the article because they said they were concerned with some actions taken by the board over the last year that has eliminated coverage by Newport in some neighboring communities.
Heather Hardy, whose husband is an on-call EMT, read a lengthy statement pointing out that the board has ended EMS coverage to Lempster, the Mt. Sunapee ski area and no longer contracts with Croydon and part of Sunapee.
Hardy and others worried that the board is moving toward eliminating the service all together and said a motion by the board to have the town manager look at disbanding the EMS Department and outsource it privately failed only because it did not receive a second.
But the board said such concerns are exaggerated and told residents Tuesday that it took the steps it did so Newport taxpayers would no longer subsidize coverage to other towns and could be assured of having the service their taxes are paying for.
“We want to make sure the service Newport pays for and counts on is here when we need them,” board member Jeff Kessler said.
He said the board examined its costs to cover neighboring towns and when that study showed Newport was picking up as much as two-thirds of those costs, it upped it charges. As a result, Croydon and half of Sunapee decided to contract with New London for ambulance service.
Nichols, who was an EMT in Newport for 42 years until health issues forced him to resign, said Newport’s EMT ranks are thinning and there is a simple way to end the problem.
“You want to end this? Become an EMT,” Nichols said to the 72 residents who attended the deliberative session.
He said they only have five full-time EMTs and the on-call numbers are getting smaller.
Nichols praised the town’s EMTs for the work they do and their dedication and further said he believes a solution can be found.
“This is not as bad as what people make it out to be,” Nichols said. “Give us time and let’s work this out. I think it can be done.”
Former EMT Jim Ackerman said he supports the article because residents should make the call on what type of ambulance service the town has.
“The people who pay the bills have more rights than a group of five,” Ackerman said, referring to the Selectboard.
The remainder of the warrant’s 15 articles drew only a few comments and no opposition. These included an additional $5 fee when registering a motor vehicle with the money going into a fund for road repairs.
Town Manager Shane O’Keefe estimated the town would raise $37,500 in the first year.
If the $9.5 million budget and other appropriations for capital reserve funds are approved, the projected town tax rate would be $11.34 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. That is a 21 cent decrease from the current rate.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
