By Kevin Doherty
The Sentinel & Enterprise
WESTMINSTER, Mass. — Town officials are looking to purchase a second ambulance for the Fire Department to buff up public safety in the community while increasing revenue to the town.
Reviewing a recent audit on the Ambulance Department, which is run out of the town’s Fire Department, selectmen acknowledged a second ambulance would be beneficial to the town, according to Selectman Joe Flanagan.
“It appears to make good economic sense,” he said. “By not having a second ambulance, we missed out on approximately 40 ambulance calls last year.”
In 2009, the ambulance department generated $213,960 in revenue, while spending $139,179, according to the May audit by Roselli, Clark & Associates of Shrewsbury. After paying off about $66,000 in loan obligations for the ambulance, the department generated a small surplus of about $13,000.
Fire Chief Brenton MacAloney said the additional ambulance will allow the department to pick up additional calls when the first ambulance is already dispatched or under repairs.
“Westminster is growing,” said MacAloney at the Public Safety building on Friday. “We have seen the number of call increase year after year, and they’re only going to keep increasing. ... We saw that the town was losing out from a financial standpoint. By buying the second ambulance, we will recoup some move left on the table.”
Emergency crews responded to 617 emergency medical calls last year, according to Capt. Kevin Nivala.
“We average almost three calls a day between fire and ambulance calls,” he added.
Officials are looking to buy a similar ambulance, as the current Ford E-Series ambulance, which the department has used for the past four years.
Fire officials stressed the new ambulance will literally pay for itself.
“Altogether, a new ambulance would probably cost around $175,000,” said MacAloney. “However, the loan that pays for the ambulance is paid off yearly through ambulance receipts. No tax money would be used to purchase this ambulance, which is a big misconception out there.”
Since the ambulance department came into fruition in 2002, MacAloney said the department has saved numerous lives.
“Prior to 2002, we would respond to medical calls and provide initial medical care to the victim, but then be sitting there for eight minutes waiting for the private ambulance. The victim would be asking us where is the ambulance,” said MacAloney. “We were actually losing money by using all our equipment and supplies without getting reimbursed.”
The closest private ambulance company is Woods Ambulance, based in Gardner.
“It’s approximately five miles away,” said MacAloney.
With the current ambulance paid off this year, officials believe the timing is right to purchase another ambulance.
“I was planning to purchase another ambulance in a couple of years, but with the opportunity available now, we should move forward with this,” said MacAloney.
An appropriation to receive the loan to purchase an additional ambulance will need approval at a Town Meeting.
Copyright 2010 MediaNews Group, Inc. and Mid-States Newspapers, Inc.
All Rights Reserved