Simsbury Ambulance Group Seeks Cash From Selectmen For New Vehicle

SIMSBURY, CT — The town's ambulance association is looking for a new vehicle, with town officials starting preliminary talks on the idea last month.

The Simsbury Board of Selectmen Jan. 12, discussed a request from the Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance Association for $250,000 to purchase a new van, weighing whether to shift town support from operating to capital expenses.

Simsbury First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis said SVAA had requested the funds for a new van and noted the organization had already ordered a new ambulance.

She said she wanted to review other town priorities before committing to the request.

Simsbury Town Manager Marc Nelson said he was seeking “policy guidance, so we are using our resources in the most effective way.”

He noted the town has a three-year memorandum of understanding with SVAA and has been assisting with its capital plans.

“I am satisfied with them and the MOU,” Nelson said, calling the new ambulance “a financial necessity for them.”

Nelson said the SVAA had expected to be in a stronger economic position by the end of the MOU, but “they are not.”

He outlined an option for the board to pivot from operating support to capital support.

If SVAA takes out a loan for the purchase, he said, “it will cause further risk to their operating budget.”

Nelson added that operating support cannot be bonded, but the town could pay for capital expenses using cash reserves.

Board members discussed increasing capital support in a way that could reduce the impact on next year’s budget.

Any change would require renegotiating the $160,000 currently allocated in SVAA’s operating budget, Nelson said.

He also noted that SVAA has begun its own capital campaign and has received donations.

After the discussion, the board agreed Nelson would begin conversations with SVAA to gather more information and develop different scenarios.

Mackstutis and board member Diana Yeisley will assist in those discussions along with the SVAA board.

No formal vote was taken.

For the minutes of the Jan. 12 Simsbury Board of Selectmen meeting, click on this link.