Lincoln ambulance plan would generate $90K for town, manager says

By Nick Sambides Jr., Bangor Daily News, Maine

Feb. 09--LINCOLN, Maine -- Town leaders will hold a special meeting next week to consider a plan to start an ambulance service that would generate $90,000 in annual revenue for the town, interim Town Manager William Lawrence said Friday.

The town would carry no cost for the service and put the revenue into a Lincoln Fire Department reserve account to offset wages and purchases of equipment, Lawrence said in a statement. The Town Council will review the plan at 6 p.m. Monday.

Lawrence said he hoped councilors will approve it.

"It's a good plan," he said Friday.

Penobscot Valley Hospital CEO David Shannon has said that the Lincoln hospital is considering leaving the ambulance business because of a lack of profit. It handles most of the emergency and patient transfer calls in the Lincoln Lakes region, he has said.

East Millinocket Fire Department workers would partner with Lincoln to replace PVH's service. East Millinocket would carry all expenses and oversee the program, Lawrence said.

East Millinocket Fire Chief Les Brown requests space for two ambulances at the Lincoln Public Safety building. Lincoln firefighters would drive the ambulance for in-town emergencies and transports, Lawrence said.

East Millinocket would pay the overtime expenses to call in a Lincoln firefighter to cover for the on-staff engineer during ambulance calls or emergencies, Lawrence said.

Brown said he would speak about the matter on Monday. East Millinocket Board of Selectmen Chairman Clint Linscott declined to comment on the plan, referring comment to Brown.

Shannon said Friday he was "waiting to see what happens" between East Millinocket and Lincoln before commenting.

The $90,000 figure is based upon an estimated 1,200 emergencies and patient transports, Lawrence said.

East Millinocket also would handle service billing, paramedic or EMT ambulance staffing and payroll.

Under Brown's leadership, East Millinocket's service has grown from one to six ambulances serving northern Penobscot County.

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