This commentary is by Lynn Barrett, who says this commentary does not reflect the opinions of any nonprofit boards she serves on or any of her current or past clients. She is publisher of Vermont Arts & Living, editor of Okemo Valley Magazine, and president of Primetime Concepts Inc.
By now, Brattleboro residents have heard the town’s intent to sign a contract with for-profit Golden Cross ambulance service and discontinue its 56-year contract with nonprofit Rescue Inc.
Why would the selectboard make such a decision on its own and why has this not been a topic of public discussion?
Every September, Rescue holds a consortium for the towns, a meeting which also airs on BCTV. At that meeting, then-Town Manager Peter Elwell assured Rescue representatives that the Brattleboro Fire Department would not be taking over the ambulance service for the town.
On Feb. 9, 2022, the new town manager, Yoshi Manale, arranged a meeting with Rescue Chief Drew Hazelton; Debra Miller Chapman, the selectboard’s appointed trustee on Rescue; and Patrick Moreland, assistant town manager. At that meeting, Manale announced to Hazelton that the town was not going to renew the contract.
Until the town’s April 11 public announcement, there was no public discussion regarding the decision. It was not brought up at the annual representative town meeting. No discussion ever took place at selectboard meetings.
This is déjà vu.
In 2014, the Putney Selectboard wanted to save $22,000 a year by retaining Golden Cross ambulance service — and not renew the Rescue contract.
In Putney’s case, the townspeople demanded to be heard and a special
town meeting was held. Brattleboro’s current fire chief, Leonard Howard III, spoke against Rescue at that meeting.
In the end, the vote was 141 in favor of keeping Rescue in the budget, and 33 against.
It is not unreasonable to think of fire departments as emergency medical services providers. The International Association of Fire Fighters union has been pushing nationwide for fire departments to provide ambulance service. And in some communities, this might be the way to go.
But, when you have an award-winning service that is highly trained and has partnered with the community for over 50 years, an abrupt change would be reckless, especially when it comes to life-and-death situations. Rescue Inc. is not just an ambulance service, but a partner in community response to natural disasters, fires and pandemics.
All of us want the selectboard to do due diligence to keep the town budget under control, but this is an extreme and egregious decision. I like to think that town government looks out for the best interests of its citizens. In this case, the selectboard has gravely failed, especially to its seniors.
There is no question that the change will result in a reduction of services and a shift of costs onto the fixed-income seniors who rely on Rescue’s programs and services to help them save money.
The voters of Brattleboro need a chance to weigh in. The selectboard should not be the sole deciders. If this decision is any example of how the new selectboard operates, they have failed, in my opinion.
The selectboard should agree to schedule a special town meeting where the town (and Golden Cross as its vendor) and Rescue Inc. have the opportunity to be heard. Let them each present a case to the community.
The contract for Rescue Inc. costs Brattleboro residents just $24.02 a year. Let’s see how many residents are eager to vote yes for Rescue.
