2025 July 28: Barre EMS Contract

Hardwick has long enjoyed excellent EMS response from both Barre and West Brookfield—and that great service continues today. I’m writing to inform others of what came to light this week, because reliable ambulance coverage matters to all of us.

In the Barre Select Board meeting (recorded on YouTube) on Monday November 3, under “New Business” was this topic: Ambulance Service to the Town of Hardwick Discussion

At this time Hardwick does not currently have a contract with Barre for ambulance services and it will cost significantly more to get a contract than expected ($83,000!). Barre EMS costs have gone up significantly and they are down an ambulance. It is a financial reality that they are unable to provide services at the old price (and certainly not at a discount). Recently there has been turnover in the Barre town government and the previous Barre Town Administrator agreed to renew and signed a contract without authorization from the Barre Select Board, so it was not valid.

In the July 28 meeting of the Hardwick Select Board they discussed this contract under New Business item “5. Discussion and vote on Memorandum of Agreement for Barre EMS services“. Unfortunately there is no YouTube video of this meeting, however there is an audio recording here (starts at 32:25).

Chair: Discussion to vote on me memorandum of agreement for Barry EMS service.
Town Adminstrator: So, um, this is a little bit late. Barry has gone through some staffing changes over there. So, I talked to the acting town administrator, um, because I wanted something in writing. Um, and then we’ll work on a contract starting FY 27. Um, you’ll notice that this agreement is $5,000 less than your agreement that you signed last year.  Um, because they haven’t showed up to as many calls as West Brookfield. Um, This was what myself and the acting town administrator came up with just to get us through the remainder of FY26, get it in writing and then negotiate something in FY27 once they have a permanent town administrator.

Notably, the minutes for the July 28, 2025 Hardwick Select Board meeting have not been posted yet:

The previous year contract was for $40,000, so this re-negotiated contract was for $35,000.

As it turns out, as can be heard and seen in the Barre Select Board meeting (recorded on YouTube) on Monday November 3, Town Administrators do not have the authority to negotiate and then sign contracts involving money without explicit authorization from the Select Board that supervises them. The Barre Town Administrator signed that agreement without consulting the Barry Select Board.

Where will the additional $47,000 come from?
How was a $5,000 reduction negotiated and then put before the Hardwick Select Board, voted on, then signed while not being ratified by the Barre Select Board?

Since July 26, 2025, in Hardwick Select Board meetings:

  • October 1, 2025: This meeting was a joint meeting with the New Braintree Select Board at the New Braintree Town Hall.
  • October 14, 2025: No mention of Barre EMS service contract on agenda (no meeting minutes available yet)
  • October 27, 2025: No mention of Barre EMS service contract on agenda (no meeting minutes available yet)

I have reached out to the Hardwick Select Board Chair and Town Administrator about this matter. This was the response from the Select Board Chair:

I think that the meeting referenced is scheduled for November 18, 2025.