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Date: 11/9/2021
BELCHERTOWN – With one of the town’s ambulances in rough shape, the Belchertown Select Board agreed to authorize an emergency procurement for the purchase of a replacement during its Nov. 1 meeting.
Fire Chief John Ingram started the conversation by saying that the oldest ambulance the town currently uses suffered damage to its framework.
“We get the ambulances inspected yearly and during the inspection we found some cracks in the framework and there are some cracks in the door so that brings us down to just having two ambulances available. This is the oldest ambulance we have; it has 135,000 miles on it and is 13 years old,” he said.
Ingram added this ambulance is used in the rotation as a spare when either of the two frontline ambulances need repairs and has undergone significant repairs in the past.
With higher call rates, Ingram said now was the time to replace the ambulance.
“We are busier with the ambulance; we are at the point where we definitely need to replace the ambulance now. When it comes to the frame, I do not feel comfortable repairing it by welding it. We did get a price and it would cost at least $5,000,” he said.
Even with repairs, Ingram said the ambulance may not last until another one is purchased.
Overall, the new ambulance would cost over $370,000.
“The price for the ambulance is $255,000, I believe Ford is going to give us a $4,000 reimbursement. The $121,298.99 is the equipment to outfit including the power loader, and the monitor,” Ingram said.
Ingram also recommended purchasing a second ambulance because of expected price increases in 2022.
“In January everything is going up at least 20 percent so if we were to wait, we are going to add on another $51,000 to this. My recommendation would be to buy two right now because the 2013 ambulance is in rough shape as well,” he said.
Because one of the ambulances is already in production and being held for the town, Ingram said it could be available in less than six months while the second would be available in about 18 months.
Board member Ronald Aponte said he was in favor of replacing the ambulance.
“I am in support of replacing the A1 as the chief had indicated. Even if you weld it together and get it to the point it could possibly pass inspection, I do not think anyone feels safe with that and it certainly is not fair to our firefighter personnel,” he said.
Aponte also said it would be possible to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the ambulance replacements.
“As far as replacing A1 with the ARPA money, we have found a couple of different clauses within the ARPA listings that it would certainly fit under as far as being an eligible expense. One of the other things is if we do not replace it now, we are down to two ambulances,” he said.
Before the meeting, Town Administrator Gary Brougham said he investigated using Federal Coronavirus Relief Funding, known as CARES Act funding, for the replacement, but those funds are not eligible to purchase a new ambulance.
“If we do not take advantage of the ARPA funds in trying to move it along, we are going to have one dysfunctional ambulance and one that by the time we replace it, is going to be five years older,” he said. “I would not feel comfortable putting a patch on that frame.”
“We are going to save money immediately by using the ARPA money, and it is not like we are depleting all that money. We will still be close to $4 million with two brand-new ambulances,” he said. “One of the things that has been discussed is making sure the purchases are long term in scope and an ambulance will probably impact anyone as deeply and broadly as anything you can purchase.”
Select Board Chair Jen Turner said she had reservations about spending ARPA funds on the ambulances.
“My major concern that I have is that we do not have a plan yet for the ARPA funds and this is a huge chunk out of it. I know we will get $4 million but this is over half a million. We do not yet have an overarching plan and I do not know how to resolve that,” she said.
The board unanimously approved a motion to authorize an emergency procurement purchase to replace the first ambulance, but did not decide on the second one.
During the meeting, the board also agreed to establish a one-day liquor license application to allow businesses without a liquor license to request one day licenses for events.
The Select Board next met on Nov. 8 and coverage of that meeting will appear in the Nov. 18 edition of The Reminder.