By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

HARRISON — For over a decade, Harrison has been served by Pace and United Ambulance companies for medical services without a per call charge.

It’s about to change.

Paul Fillebrown of United Ambulance recently met with Town Manager Cass Newell and Select Board Chairman Matt Frank regarding instituting a $282 per call charge for each call for the next year. Last year, Harrison had 143 calls.

“It comes to $40,000 and change. That’s a lot of money,” Frank told the public at last Thursday’s board meeting.

The request came after the budget process had been completed.

“This wasn’t something that we could bring up and have on the warrant in time for town meeting. We just didn’t have the information,” Newell explained. “United is willing to be flexible with their schedule and when they are going to require the funds and/or a decision from us. I explained to them that there’s no way that we can do the things that we need to do as a town to be able to start paying them that soon. They’re bound by a 30-day notification that they often put in the paper. In fact, that’s how they advertise what’s happening for them.”

United would like to see payment or a decision by July 1, but Newell doesn’t expect anything until August, when a full Select Board (with newly-elected Deb Kane at the table) can review information, schedule public informational meetings and a special town meeting might be required.

Newell reached out to PACE Ambulance officials regarding if the town dropped United, could the Norway-based service pick up additional calls? Harrison is divided into two sectors with PACE responding to calls in areas closer to Norway while United handles calls closer to Bridgton. If patients request either Stephens Memorial or Bridgton Hospital, PACE and United will adhere to the request.

“It’s not a 50-50 split. It’s more like 55-45 split,” Newell said. “PACE doesn’t have any interest at this point in charging us right now. So right now, PACE is going to consider going with the status quo. Either no charge or if the town ends up making a decision that it’s in the town’s best interest to not pay United and let the service of United drop, which I don’t as a retired Navy nurse, I think that’s a bad idea. I realize it’s more money, but it’s a bad idea. The length of time for an ambulance to get to a scene will affect patient outcomes and you will have negative patient outcomes. People can get sicker, people can get worse. Something that is a moderate severity, something is a moderate trauma or something can escalate to a severe trauma, potentially including death. Obviously, we don’t want any of this to occur.”

Ultimately, Newell said, it’s whatever the town needs and wants to do and sees fit. 

Harrison’s current options is to work with United regarding payment or drop the service. Newell noted that PACE will also seek “some sort of financial commitment” next year.

In other news:

• Citizen Wendy Gallant noted the town playgrounds need repair and/or replacement. “They’re really in poor shape,” she said. Newell has a donation lined up to address the issues. “We’ve gathered the information that we need (costs and prices) and it has gone out to the individual donor. We’re just waiting to see if the donor will pick up the entire tab.”

Taking her Miss Maples Nature House child-care group to Mill Pond Park for a walk, the boardwalk area is full of poison ivy, Gallant said. “It’s not easy to get rid of, I know. Can we do something about it, at least flag it saying ‘Poison Ivy, beware.’ It’s going to be pretty nasty,” she said.