SOUTH DEERFIELD — Select Board members say the town is exploring all options, including the Whately Town Offices and building a new structure altogether, to house South County Emergency Medical Services.
“Everybody is interested in finding a permanent solution,” said Zachary Smith, director of the ambulance service. “It’s just a matter of working toward that solution.”
During a Select Board meeting Tuesday night, member Henry “Kip” Komosa Jr. presented a concept he helped create as a possible solution to the service’s building needs.
“I don’t want to label this as a backup, it’s just another avenue,” he said. “If this works the way I want it to, all three districts will benefit. I don’t want this to be another garage-mahal. I want this to be functional, something that works.”
Komosa said the ultimate goal of building a separate facility would be to save taxpayers money. He also said the conceptual design could easily accommodate future expansion.
“It’s important that they have their own facility,” he continued, “but you’ve also got to keep the dollars in check.”
The presentation came after the Select Board turned down a few proposed locations and closed an official request for proposals at the end of June based on a recommendation from the ambulance company’s Board of Oversight.
Soon after, the town opened negotiations, based on another recommendation, with Whately and, at the same time, started looking into other possible solutions.
“We’re exploring other options if they’re out there,” said Douglas Finn, town administrator, “and we’re continuing negotiations with Whately. Time is running short and we need to find something viable.”
Finn also said he was not sure if the conceptual sketch brought out at the board meeting is available for the public to see.
Whately’s building proposition submitted last month begins by saying, “As you are already very much aware, the Town of Whately purchased our current Town Office facility, located at 4 Sandy Lane, with the intention and hopes of also providing housing for our regional emergency medical services.”
The town office proposal was rejected along with a proposal from the owners of the old fire station in the center of town, and another for the service to remain where it is, in the fire station.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Komosa said the board hopes to come to an agreement with Whately or find an acceptable alternative soon.
“Everybody accepts that we can’t keep doing what we’re doing now,” Smith said, adding that there also have been recent changes to the South County EMS Board of Oversight.