Granby Weighs New Ambulance Deal, Fire Truck Replacements

GRANBY, CT — Granby’s emergency services could see several changes in the coming months, including a new long-term ambulance agreement and the replacement of two fire department vehicles.

A five-year operating agreement between the town and Granby Ambulance Association was presented to the Board of Selectmen on Monday. The agreement would run through June 30, 2031, and be retroactive to July 1.

Granby Ambulance Association has served the town since 1963 and is the state-designated primary emergency medical service provider for Granby, East Granby and East Hartland.

Under the proposed agreement, Granby would provide the association with an annual stipend of up to $80,000, subject to the town’s normal budget process. The money would be paid in four quarterly installments of $20,000.

The town and ambulance association could agree to increase the stipend after the first year. The agreement would automatically renew annually after its initial term unless either side provides at least 90 days’ notice.

The new terms follow a town review of the ambulance association’s audited financial statements from 2021 through 2023. Town Manager Mike Walsh said the resulting recommendations were intended to strengthen the organization’s financial position.

The agreement would require the ambulance association to place a greater emphasis on collecting unpaid bills and maximizing the rates it is authorized to charge. It would also have to review the fees charged to the other towns in its service area each year.

Granby Ambulance would provide the town with an annual 10-year capital plan covering ambulances, equipment and other anticipated purchases. The association would also be expected to maintain enough money in its endowment to cover the first three years of planned capital expenses.

The agreement also calls for more regular communication with town officials, additional financial reporting and clearer rules governing radio equipment supplied by Granby.

The ambulance proposal was included in the same Board of Selectmen meeting packet as Lost Acres Fire Department’s annual report.

The volunteer fire department has formed committees to evaluate proposals for replacing its rescue truck, known as LA7, and Engine 2, known as LA2. The department expects to select vendors and move both purchases forward during the first half of the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Estimated costs for the vehicles were not included in the report.

Lost Acres responded to 283 emergency incidents during the last fiscal year, a figure the department described as consistent with recent years. The total included 24 fires, 17 rescue or medical calls, 58 hazardous-condition calls and 34 service calls.

More than half of the department’s responses — 148 calls — were classified as good-intent calls, false alarms or incidents where no emergency was found.

The department highlighted a Jan. 19 house fire on Lost Acres Road, where firefighters rescued a homeowner and two dogs trapped on an exterior deck before continuing fire-suppression operations.

Members also logged more than 2,400 hours of training and other non-emergency work. Lost Acres currently has 39 members, including 35 certified interior firefighters.

The department, founded in 1936, is marking its 90th anniversary this year.

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