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By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM --- At a recent town meeting townspeople threw down the gauntlet – help EMS. Last week the town took up the challenge and is at work on solutions for the EMS facilities problem.
Town Administrator Elaine Sistare said selectmen voted unanimously to spend $14,700 of America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for a facility study on the EMS building on Church Street. She expects the contract to be signed this week and a report should be ready in four to six week.
The facilities study would cover programming, schematics, and scope, she said. “What do they need? What do they have? Cost estimates, etc.” she said.
That information will go to the new EMS Facilities Upgrade Ad Hoc Committee. Mayor Barney Seney, Deputy Mayor Roy Simmons and Selectman Gloria Marion will be studying long/short term upgrades to the Church Street facility. They will be receiving help/advice from EMS Chief Administrator Tammy Scpyrka and Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Director Scott Belleville. Sistare said the Water Pollution Control Authority and Building Inspector Chad Sessums will also be asked for their input.
Sistare said she is on parallel paths --- investigating the interim solution of renting or buying a temporary building for EMS and another path, continuing toward permanent upgrade.
Much of the path choice hangs on the facilities study.
A decision will be made by the end of the year, she said because, per the federal government deadline, all ARPA funds must be “committed” (signed contract) by Dec. 31. She said the town still has $60,000 to $80,000 in uncommitted ARPA funding.
In addition to the help for the EMS facilities, selectmen also unanimously approved spending up to $600,000 in ARPA funding for the purchase of 800-MHz radios. $350,000 of that would go to the Putnam Police Department/dispatch and the rest would go to the Putnam Fire Department, EMS, Emergency Management and the Highway Department.
The East Putnam Fire Department recently received town approval for about $81,000 of ARPA funding to upgrade the long pre-existing radio infrastructure and to buy four 800-MHz radios which are capable of operating on the State Police system. East Putnam has already received full permission from the State Police to operate on their system. The 800-MHz radios take about six to nine months to come in.
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