CARIBOU, Maine — Following a lengthy debate Monday, Caribou city councilors voted four to two in favor of looking into buying a new ambulance for the city’s Fire and Ambulance Department
Councilors debated the need for a fifth ambulance, the costs involved, and the possibility of buying a van instead.
Caribou Fire and Ambulance Chief Scott Susi explained that the need has risen due to an accident in August that destroyed an ambulance. The driver in that incident fell asleep and the ambulance hit a utility pole, according to police. Neither the driver nor a passenger were injured, police said at the time.
Since the city only had liability insurance for the ambulance, Susi said Monday that the total payout was $24,000, adding that the equipment replacement was covered.
“The matter at hand is replacing the ambulance,” Susi told the council. “Like any other ambulance, it takes six to seven months to build one and that’s what I’m here to discuss. Hopefully we can get one by February or March of next year.”
The chief cited financial data for the the past three years, and said that without a fifth ambulance, Caribou would have lost out on $208,000 in revenue from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31 of 2017. He added that the total loss for 2016 would’ve been $223,000 and 2015’s loss would’ve been $217,000 without the fifth vehicle.
Mayor Gary Aiken asked Susi how he came up with his figures.
“We wouldn’t be able to do the [downstate] trips,” Susi said, referring to Caribou ambulance transporting patients to facilities in Bangor, Lewiston, and Portland, which generate significant revenue.
Aiken argued that the figures weren’t accurate since they’re not taking wear and tear, or overtime pay for drivers, into consideration.
“You’re saying it’s going to cost us around $215,000 but that’s not really the cost,” Aiken said. “I want to see where we’re really at when you look at those figures. I can’t make a decision until I have the real numbers.”
The mayor estimated that, with other costs taken into consideration, the $200,000 profit likely would be closer to $100,000.
Councilor David Martin argued that that amount was still beneficial to the city.
“You’re making $100,000 and paying labor for someone,” Martin said. “We make money with the ambulance service.”
Councilor Joan Theriault agreed with the mayor, saying she didn’t want to make a decision until more accurate figures were presented.
Councilor Philip McDonough suggested purchasing a van, and “managing the fleet accordingly,” instead of spending close to a “quarter of a million dollars” on a new ambulance.
The councilors ultimately voted to move forward with the purchase, with McDonough and Theriault opposed.
