By a vote of 84-56 Saturday, Woolwich chose to fund its own 24/7 ambulance department. The ballot vote at the annual town meeting followed an hour-long floor debate weighing the option of contracting with Bath.

Voters opted to raise $177,799 needed to expand their EMS department. They earmarked another $26,859 for a new ambulance authorizing the select board to borrow up to $150,000 for the purchase to be financed over seven years. EMS director Brian Carlton estimated the department would take in approximately $72,000 in revenues to offset the department’s operational costs.

Emergency response time was a bigger concern for voters than cost was. Many praised the town’s first responders for their reliability and professionalism.

Woolwich’s ambulance service has maintained a 93 percent response rate, said Carlton. He added, an ambulance could be at the scene of an emergency in 10 minutes or less. North East Mobile Health Services, the town’s current ambulance provider, required an average of 17 minutes, and has become less reliable over the last year, continued Carlton.

“The men and women that make up our EMS department have stepped up and demonstrated they can handle this responsibility,” Selectman Allen Greene commented. “I’m confident they can do this if we choose to expand the ambulance service because they have been doing it.”

Contracting with Bath for EMS services would have cost $99,145 for the first year negating the need for a second ambulance; had voters selected the Bath option they would have been asked to raise $61,096 to continue funding the town’s own part-time EMS department.

A little over 100 voters were present when moderator John Chapman called the town meeting to order at 9:10 in the gymnasium of Woolwich Central School. 

A motion to keep Patten Free Library’s request the same as last year’s was defeated. Voters raised the full $55,695 the library in Bath requested. Woolwich’s contribution represents six percent of the library’s 2019-20 operational budget.  

Voters raised $200,489 for town-wide roadside trash and recycling pickup, up $7,401 from last year; $607,304 was approved for roads and bridges. They passed the fire department budget of $138,929 that included a small pay hike for firefighters and raised $10,990 to buy air packs and air bottles for the fire department.

Fire Chief Mike Demers explained buying the emergency equipment was contingent on the department receiving grant monies.

Voters approved a 2.8 percent cost of living raise for the town administrator, town clerk, tax collector and code enforcement officer.

As the town auditor recommended, voters authorized the select board to increase the town’s undesignated fund balance from $1 million to $1.2 million. Funds not needed in the coming months will be applied to the tax commitment to reduce property taxes.

Voters raised $7,000 toward the eventual purchase of a $48,327 solar array at the former landfill. They raised $18,874 for donations for non-profit groups and community organizations. They further authorized the select board to remove $10,000 from the alewives account to repair the historic Nequasset Meeting House.

By a voice vote, Robert E. Stevens was re-appointed to another five-year term as fish commissioner.

Before the meeting, select board chairman David King Sr. estimated the 2019-20 municipal budget would amount to $1.79 million if voters chose Woolwich as their primary ambulance provider.

Voters passed an ordinance to let the fire department seek reimbursement for some emergency calls. These included false alarms, bomb threats, arson, illegal burning and crashes including OUI-related accidents, or ones involving commercial vehicle hazardous material spills. Fees could be imposed for services such as traffic control, extrication and cleanup.

The ordinance wouldn’t apply to minor motor vehicle accidents. It allows the select board to write off claims, “in whole or in part, due to extenuating circumstances.”

Also passed was an ordinance addressing the problem of the fire department responding to multiple false alarms at the same address, public or private. The owner(s) would be subject to a $50 fine. The ordinance makes allowances for newly installed fire alarm systems and false alarms caused by power outages, weather, and motor vehicle crashes. Both ordinances took effect upon voter approval.

The select board dedicated the annual town report to Woolwich native and longtime road commissioner Jack Shaw of Walker Road.

John and Edna Kennedy got the Spirit of America award for their many years of community service.

At the start of Saturday’s meeting, King asked for a show of hands for returning the annual town meeting to Wednesday night. Most favored it.