Dedicated ambulance service is expected to cost the Town of Stanford approximately $870,000 next year, as officials review emergency response times and explore possible regional partnerships.
“EMS continues to be a challenge,” Town Supervisor Julia Descoteaux said at the Town Board’s July 9 meeting.
Descoteaux said the town now has detailed call-by-call data from Empress EMS and will review response performance, potential ambulance stationing locations, and opportunities for improvement with the Stanford Fire District commissioners on July 21. The town has also been speaking with neighboring municipalities, Dutchess County, and Northwell Health.
No decision on a future service model will be made without the engagement and endorsement of the fire commissioners, Descoteaux said.
Stanford received 27 EMS calls in June, 22 of which were answered by the town’s dedicated ambulance. Fourteen were classified as P1, the highest-priority calls. Ten of those received responses in under 10 minutes, four exceeded 10 minutes, and one took 23 minutes.
Descoteaux said the 23-minute response involved a crew that did not take the correct route and that the issue had been addressed with the ambulance provider.
The town has one year of funds remaining from an anonymous donation that has helped offset ambulance costs. Descoteaux said controlling costs remained important, but improving response times and service quality was the town’s primary objective.
In other business, the board unanimously authorized enforcement proceedings in two property cases, including one involving an alleged unpermitted short-term rental at 729-731 Cold Spring Road.
The board authorized the building inspector to pursue proceedings over the alleged failure to obtain a short-term rental permit at that property. In a separate case, the board authorized proceedings over alleged zoning, building, fire prevention, refuse, trailer, and abandoned-vehicle violations at 154 Hicks Lane.
“Our town does not like to do this sort of stuff,” Descoteaux said, adding that officials “try everything to avoid this sort of thing.” She said the actions came only after several months of unanswered communications and expressed hope the proceedings would prompt discussions toward resolving the issues.
The board also authorized an application for up to $300,000 from the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for improvements at Stanford Recreation Park. The proposal could include walking paths, fitness equipment, additional shade structures, and accessibility improvements.
Descoteaux also announced that Town Clerk Ritamary Bell had secured a $6,000 Dutchess County grant as part of Stanford’s effort to become a Purple Heart Town. The money will be used for flags, plaques, and signs at veterans memorials, with a dedication planned for 11 a.m. Nov. 11.
Board member Ted Secor, meanwhile, called for volunteers to help prepare Stanford’s Haunted Fortress. Work sessions are planned every other Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Organizers are looking for volunteers with a range of abilities, Secor said, including “anyone who can turn a screw or paint.”
The next Stanford Town Board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 13.