Amesbury MA Prepares to Buy Second Ambulance

AMESBURY, MA—As the firefighters union and Mayor Ken Gray continue to work toward a new contract, a process that has caused friction between the two sides, both are on the same page about at least one thing — the need for a new ambulance.

On Tuesday, the City Council officially received a bill from Gray’s office asking for $85,000 from the city’s ambulance fund to begin paying for a 2019 Ford-450 Super Warrior ambulance. The money would be the first of three annual payments.

The council is likely to approve the bill next month after a second reading and a public hearing, both scheduled for Nov. 12.

Amesbury Firefighters Local 1783 recently criticized Gray for focusing on the city’s money-generating ambulance service to the detriment of a “dedicated fire attack response.”

In the last two fiscal years, the ambulance service has accounted for more than $1.5 million in revenue, money that is appropriated by the mayor’s office to help balance the budget. As of Tuesday, the ambulance fund had a balance of $189,196.

But in terms of spending money to buy a new ambulance, Local 1783 President David Carpentier applauded the move.

“We’re very grateful,” Carpentier said.

Since summer, the department has been using a Merrimac Fire Department ambulance free of charge after the city’s second one failed.

“We’ve needed a second ambulance for a while,” Carpentier said.

For several months, Gray and Local 1783 have been working toward an agreement on a new contract after the union’s three-year contract with the city ended June 30. Historically, contracts have been three years in length.

When asked Wednesday how negotiations were proceeding, Gray and the union declined comment.

Earlier this month, Carpentier said union ground rules forbid discussion of contract negotiations with a third party unless the sides have reached an impasse. That implies the two sides are still working toward a new contract.

Carpentier did say Gray’s bill for a new ambulance was unrelated to contract talks.

The push for a new ambulance began in May when Fire Chief Ken Berkenbush told Gray that an ambulance needed “extensive repairs,” according to the mayor’s office.

A repair estimate completed in June came back at roughly $100,000. A decision to repair the ambulance was held off for two months during which time the department began using the Merrimac ambulance.

Last month, after speaking with union officials, it was decided to replace the ambulance instead of repairing the old one.

Although the City Council has yet to approve the money, the department is moving forward and has picked out a new ambulance.

“A new ambulance is currently being fitted with upgrades determined in cooperation with the union, prior to delivery,” the mayor’s office wrote in an email.

The ambulance is expected to be delivered in November, the email said.

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