South Coast Today
MARION, Mass. — Voters decided in favor of funding around-the-clock staffing of ambulance services at Monday’s special Town Meeting but struggled over a recommendation to give the money to selectmen and not the Fire Department.
Finance Committee Chairman Alan Minard proposed placing the money in the selectmen’s budget rather than the Fire Department’s account so officials would have time to study a better and more permanent solution.
The article and the amended language were approved despite Selectman Jonathan Henry’s objection that the board had no advanced knowledge of the move or the chance to discuss it. “This is an unprecedented step,” Henry said. "(The fire chief) runs the department but somebody else controls the budget? I don’t think this is a good idea.”
Full story: 24/7 ambulance staffing OK’d with a twist