“We’re going to have to do something within this year or we’re not going to have anybody left,” Wiscasset Town Manager Dennis Simmons told selectmen and the budget committee Nov. 30 about Emergency Medical Service (EMS) pay.

Meeting over Zoom for a near mid year, town budget review and to plan 2022-23 budget talks, the panels heard the town has so far used 37% of this year’s budget.

Bringing up EMS pay, Simmons told them Central Lincoln County (CLC) Ambulance is paying paramedics $23 to $26 an hour depending on experience; Boothbay Region Ambulance Service, $28 an hour. Wiscasset EMS Director Erin Bean told Wiscasset Newspaper in a phone interview Dec. 1, the department pays paramedics $20 an hour.

Selectmen and Simmons mulled EMS pay when they looked recently at how to spend American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. According to Simmons in the Nov. 30 session and Bean in the interview, given this year’s revenue including last year’s EMS savings selectmen let carry over to this year’s budget, the department could do $3 an hour raises for the 18 EMS workers on hourly wages. That would bring basic emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to $18 an hour, advanced EMTs to $19.50 and paramedics $23, Bean said.

No decisions were made. The idea drew questions but no opposition. “It was nice to know they weren’t upset and seemed to understand,” Bean said. “I think it went well and I think everyone is getting on the same page” supporting the ambulance service and, she hoped, all the public safety departments. She added, people these days are thanking EMS members and asking how they are.

Bean said she is losing no workers over pay, but some are working fewer hours for Wiscasset because they make more at the other ambulance services they also work at. So she is on the ambulance more, not getting more money, however, because she is on salary. But it shows members she supports them and understands they are doing what they need to for their families, she said.

Also Nov. 30, participants praised Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission’s contracted work on town planning. It has made a night and day difference for the planning board, Selectmen’s Chair Sarah Whitfield said. Selectman Terry Heller asked about trying to bring back the school resource officer job. Simmons said Superintendent of Schools Terry Wood has been exploring possible grant funding for it. And Selectman Kim Andersson suggested, if building permits stay high, proposing codes enforcement go up from 20 hours a week. 

Simmons was not sure Code Enforcement Officer Bruce Mullins would want more hours. If he didn’t, someone else could do the added hours, Andersson said. 

Simmons is considering asking Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset if its work-release program could help the short-staffed public works department shovel snow or do other work. Budget committee member Sharon Jacques called that a good idea.

Simmons cited a concern on transfer station costs; cardboard and metal prices are “way up;” but when the town refinanced equipment loans last year to cut the interest rates, “We thought we refinanced all of them,” but a tractor loan was not, and now debt service is $18,000 over budget, he said. Budget committee member Tom Joyce observed the numbers overall are on target. Simmons agreed and said he will keep a “very close eye” on that budget.

As the two panels looked ahead, budget committee members offered their help on capital planning. They said it would also help inform their advisory decisions. Selectmen said they were happy to hear it and Simmons could reach out to people as volunteers.

Simmons expects to have a budget draft by Feb. 2 and he said everything needs to be ready by April 6, 60 days before the town votes.

After the session with the budget committee, selectmen approved a business license for Ashley Kate Aesthetics & Co., 681 Bath Road. Owner Ashley Moody’s application described the business as “spa/beauty.”