Barre Board Questions Ambulance Mutual Aid Costs

Select Board · Meeting of June 1, 2026

Barre Select Board questions whether the town can bill Hardwick for free ambulance mutual aid coverage. Members said Hardwick pays a separate provider, Westbrook Field, $50,000 a year for round-the-clock ambulance service, yet still relies on Barre's crews for uncompensated backup calls, while Barre itself pays other towns $300 to $500 per call for paramedic mutual aid it receives. The board agreed to ask the fire chief to research whether billing is legally permissible, with no timeline set.

Town Administrator Melanie Jackson reported a 6 percent local rooms tax passed at town meeting, calling herself "thrilled," while a proposed meals tax failed by six votes. The board also approved a 20-year Ruggles Lane School lease with the Quabbin Regional School District, authorized Jackson to form a committee studying the town's financial governance structure, and set Susan Doherty's pay at $20 an hour as the new assistant accountant.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
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• The complete report — 3,132 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of June 1, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.