WHATELY — New building proposals to house South County Emergency Services need to be turned in by June 3.
In Whately, officials are frustrated with the decision process. The town proposed that the EMS service take up residence in the town office space six months ago — at a rate of $5 per square foot per month, which is significantly lower than the town’s current commercial rate of $15 per square foot.
“I think SCEMS is a great deal. I don’t want to jump ship because they’re offering great coverage. I think we run the risk of incurring more expenses if they go elsewhere,” said Selectman Paul Newlin. “But, I don’t get the feeling we can rely on what’s been going on here.”
His sentiments are shared by the rest of the board, which debated whether to consider allowing the Frontier Regional School administration to move from its current location just down the road on Christian Lane, into the space, instead of South County EMS, during a Select Board meeting Tuesday morning.
The school has been actively searching for a new location since the beginning of the year.
Whately Town Administrator Mark Pruhenski said that when the town built the offices, the initial understanding was that South County EMS would move in and pay rent.
Now, that’s not the case.
“If this doesn’t move forward, if anyone thinks that the continuation of SCEMS is a sure thing, their glasses are really foggy,” Select Board Jonathan Edwards said.
Edwards said the final decision was going to be made by spring 2016, but now it has been pushed back to the fall.
Even if the building in Whately is selected, Select Board member Frederick Orloski said the location could be temporary because South County EMS could move again soon after.
“If we potentially go ahead with SCEMS, and they do leave in the three to five years, then we’re stuck with spaces we need to rent,” said John Wroblewski of the Whately Municipal Building Committee.
One ambulance now is at the South Deerfield fire station, one is in Sunderland and another is in Whately.
Zach Smith, South County EMS chief, said they are stretched thin. “We’re looking for a centralized headquarters for all of our operations, that will both reduce costs as well as streamline performance, to be able to respond quicker to all the communities we serve.”
The department now has a 12-by-7-foot room to house eight people. Some EMS staff members have to ring the doorbell to get into work.
“It was always considered a temporary solution until we found a permanent home,” Smith said, adding that all of the departments have been helpful in the arrangement.
South County EMS is governed by a board of oversight, which is composed of representatives from all three towns. Ultimately, the fiscal responsibility of managing the service falls to the town of Deerfield.
“We can’t stay where we are, it’s just not healthy for our department,” Smith said. “The question is, where are we going to move?”