Meredith chief recommends renewing EMS contract with Stewart's

MEREDITH — During a selectboard workshop about renewing the town’s contract with Stewart’s Ambulance Service, Fire Chief Ken Jones recommended reengaging with the company, rather than putting out a request for bids, or starting a service of their own.

“By not going out to bid for different services, if anybody has that in mind, I think that’s the right choice,” Jones told the selectboard Aug. 10. “A neighboring community along the Lakes Region did that a year-and-a-half, two years ago, and they’re paying for it now by going out to bid. I know the wish of the board right now is to not do a fire/EMS service here within this community, so I think this is the right step forward.”

No vote was taken during the workshop.

Jones said over the last several months, the Four Town EMS committee has been meeting to look at the contract with Stewart’s, which expired June 30. Since its expiration, two, 30-day extensions were granted.

Jones said they had several discussions on the ambulance service, where it is heading, and potential nightmare scenarios that could take place with legislation.

According to information in the meeting packet, the committee agreed to stay on board with a five-year contract, citing the “continued uncertainty” of private EMS companies' financial stability. This is unlikely with Stewart's, Jones wrote in a document in the meeting packet, but with “the governing world and insurance companies” anything is on the table.

“Insurance companies are certainly trying to restrict paybacks for ambulance costs,” Jones said.

The committee created a draft, sent to attorneys representing the four towns: Meredith, Center Harbor, Moultonborough, and Sandwich. Several changes were made after attorney Tim Sullivan reviewed the contract, who advised the town to adopt the suggested corrections.

“Those were adopted and put forth in the contract,” Jones said.

A proposed contract would secure EMS services with Stewart’s Ambulance until June 30, 2031.

The proposed, intermunicipal contract states the agreement will be in effect from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2031, unless extended or terminated. Stewart’s Ambulance will provide the towns with ambulance service on a continuous, 24-hour basis for each day of the agreement.

A section in the contract states the agreement can be extended by the parties up to five years. The renewal term would start on July 1, 2031, and end on June 30, 2036, and for subsequent five-year terms.

The contract states Stewart’s Ambulance will provide at least two New Hampshire Department of Safety Division of Fire Standards and Training and Emergency Medical Services licensed, basic life support ambulances. Each would include an advanced life support unit, and will be maintained and garaged in heated accommodations in Meredith and Moultonborough.

One ambulance would be located in Meredith, and the other at the Moultonborough Public Safety Building. In the event Moultonborough was not involved, the second ambulance would be relocated to a mutually agreeable location.

The contract defines ambulance standards. The vehicles must be licensed and meet proper requirements, and equipped with mobile communication equipment according to the state EMS Communication Plan. They should also be able to communicate with town fire departments on the Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid frequencies, and other local and state police and fire departments, as well as hospitals.

The ambulances must have all necessary equipment assessed regularly, as well.

Each ambulance must be staffed regularly with two nationally registered emergency medical technicians (NREMT). One ambulance needs to be staffed by a paramedic, and the other needs to have an employee with an advanced emergency medical technician level certification. A second paramedic should be available, as well. Stewart’s also needs to provide paramedic intercept coverage when the ambulance is staffed, part of an auxiliary service.

The contract also states the four towns need to maintain a contingency fund amounting to $250,000, and outlines insurance coverage and staffing requirements.

The base year compensation, for July 1, 2026- June 30, 2027, is $63,336.33 per month, or $760,048 annually.

Chair Steve Aiken asked what the increase from last year was, and Jones said the increase in 2027 was not yet available. Jones thinks the contract price will be established by Nov. 30.

Currently, the town is paying $406,805. The cost of the contract is based on each town’s call volume percentage, with Meredith at just over 63%.