OAKFIELD, Maine — Oakfield’s annual town meeting held Monday, March 6, drew considerable discussion regarding an increased ambulance rate, though the town ultimately voted to approve the increase.
The town, along with the 13 other southern Aroostook towns contracted with Houlton’s ambulance service, are facing dramatic increases in ambulance rates from the previous year. Article 16 on the town meeting’s warrant sought more than $72,000 for the General Administration Account, a roughly $50,000 increase from the previous year, largely due to the ambulance increase.
David Gordon, a resident of Oakfield, made a case for a potential shift for the town to use the ambulance service based in Island Falls, rather than accept the Houlton fee for this year.
“It was very upsetting to me to have that increase,” Gordon said. “I felt if I were treated that way in a business and someone had done that to me, that’s just very poor business and poor management.”
Justin Ripley, the ambulance director for the town of Island Falls, was also present at the meeting to field questions and present more information about his town’s ambulance services. He stated the town was prepared to work with Oakfield at a rate of $23.50 per capita, compared to the $74 per-capita rate that Houlton is implementing for 2021.
“We would be willing to lock that in for a couple of years ,” said Ripley. “Currently, we run about 116 calls a year, and last year transported 85 of those calls.”
But other town residents and selectmen were not entirely sold on the idea of immediately switching to Island Falls. The main concern brought up was that unlike Houlton, Island Falls had no staffed paramedic, only basic EMT workers.
“This might cost somebody their life,” said Joe White, another Oakfield resident who attended the meeting. “And I hope it’s not my mother who’s sick and needs a paramedic when they’re 45 minutes out.”
Ultimately, Article 16 was approved by the town, with a vote of 11 in favor versus three voting against it. For 2021, Oakfield will continue to use the Houlton ambulance service.
The town also voted to accept a non-property tax revenue of $446,000 for the 2021 fiscal year, a roughly $40,000 decrease from the previous year. The new revenue will reduce the 2021 tax commitment for the town. The town’s total municipal budget for 2021 will be $660,955.
Two new selectmen, Todd Collier and Keith Porter, were also elected to three-year terms each, replacing Robert Dickinson and Matt Crandall. Larry Greenlaw and Danny Barrows were elected to the RSU 50 school board.
Residents of Oakfield vote on one of the town’s articles during the annual town meeting held on March 16. (Alexander MacDougall | Houlton Pioneer Times)
Oakfield town selectmen Barbara Branscombe (left), and Anthony White during the town’s annual town meeting. (Alexander MacDougall | Houlton Pioneer Times)
