To resolve staffing and training issues, the town's public safety ad hoc committee had recommended that the town either fully fund the ambulance with paramedics and personnel or contract the personnel. Dexter is not certified to provide advanced life support services.

Because the hospital's proposals were very detailed, the council will review the documents and discuss its findings next month.

In a brief overview Thursday, Town Manager Robert Simpson said that in the first option, Mayo would provide an ambulance out of Dover-Foxcroft and would house a "jump truck" for advanced life support needs in Dexter. Under that option, Mayo would do the billing for services and would retain all revenues. That option would cost Dexter $96,100, the most expensive of the three options.

But because an ambulance would not be stationed in Dexter, Simpson said that this option "would probably not be a politically wise decision to make." His statement referred to the public outcry heard in the community in 1998 when town officials considered selling the equipment and contracting the service.

The other two options, which basically mirror one another at a cost of $55,600, would provide an ambulance in Dexter and round-the-clock coverage with the hospital providing all the staff and training. Mayo would provide the billing and retain the revenues, but would require a subsidy of $25,000 from the town, which is included in the cost.

It costs the town about $142,000 to operate the town-owned ambulance service, which is offset by about $100,000 in revenue, for a net cost of $42,000, according to Simpson. However, if the town followed the recommendations of the ad hoc committee, the net cost would likely be about $55,000.

Still, Simpson said it appeared the least expensive option would be to continue with the town-owned and -operated service.

In other business Thursday, violators of the town code governing the use of a lean-to or a windbreak near the Lake Wassookeag shore land will face enforcement action as ordered by the Town Council.

Bill Murphy, code enforcement officer, told the council there have been violations of the town code that allows only a lean-to or windbreak with one side and no roof covering near the shore land.

The council also granted an automobile graveyard-junkyard permit to B&K Auto Salvage after learning the business was now in compliance with local ordinances.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Saturday, January 18, 2003 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."