Ambulance Wants
More Funding
From Randolph
By Pamala Yerrington

Tom Anderson of Brookfield, president of the White River Valley Ambulance board presented the Randolph Selectboard Monday evening with an appeal for help from the town.

WRVA needs an extra $35,000 to get it through the year, he said.

WRVA Vice Chair Peter Sullivan, Secretary Joanne Mills, and Treasurer Jon Hodgdon were also in attendance, but Randolph’s regular representative to the WRVA, Barbara Springer, was unable to attend.

Anderson opened the presentation with a brief history of the ambulance service and its changing role over time. The service dates back to 1974 when it was volunteer-staffed. It next evolved into a mission-driven service. Today the service covers 280 square miles in eight towns over four counties with a population base of 11,500.

WRVA has answered 836 calls from Jan. 1 through Sept. 30 this year, he said, and 491 of the calls were from Randolph, not including Gifford transports.

WRVA owns a fully equipped rescue truck and has one of only two Jaws of Life in the service area. In areas of rescue support, but not generally known, WRVA also has a snowmobile with trailer, four-wheeler, and rescue sled ready to respond. Special event coverage, training courses, transfer assists, and mutual aid are among other services offered.

Rocky Transition

Anderson admitted that WRVA has had a difficult transition into a professionally-run business. The board, with several new members, is spending many hours changing the course of WRVA with an eye to budget transparency, responsible oversight, and strong communication lines, he said.

It has changed administrative practices including billing, resulting in speedier turnaround of revenue collection.

However, he said, WRVA has three ambulances with very high mileage, and replacement costs are at least $135,00 per unit.

Anderson closed the presentation with a request that a supplemental $35,000 be approved by the town of Randolph to allow WRVA to remain on a positive footing until the next budget.

The board has pledged to work with the towns to insure there are no problems with the budget process in 2008, as there have been the last two years.

Selectmen Respond

Selectman Ken Goss asked if a copy of the WRVA budget will be made available to the selectboard. Anderson responded that Randolph’s representative Barbara Springer will deliver it.

Selectman Damon Lease, while thanking the WRVA for its commitment, wondered if taxpayers can afford all the services it provides.

Board Chair Jim Hutchinson commented he believes that "an excellent job" has been done by the board. A recent meeting left him feeling that WRVA now "will make it," something he was in doubt about previously, he said, due to WRVA’s poor fiscal planning.

Selectman Steve Springer discussed calling a special election to ask the voters to authorize payment and asked if WRVA would consider a presentation to the town. Anderson responded that as a resident of Brookfield, he thought presentation would be best coming from the town and its people, but would help if needed.

Selectman Larry Townsend asked that the budget committee be given first opportunity to review this request.

The selectboard hopes to have the budget committee review this special appropriation and have this item back on the agenda in the very near future.