The vote of the Town Council in regards to this is disturbing. It was pretty clear that the intent of the voters was to not to create our own ambulance service when the warrant article was defeated just a couple of years ago. The council has cited that there were incidents where Tri-Town was not fulfilling their oblgation to the town. Just what were these incidents? I cannot remember seeing any documented proof of these allegations. Last year at the Budget Committee Public Hearing the statement was made by the Fire Chief that the "Rescue Vehicle" was only intended to be a back up to Tri-Town during busy times of the day; that Hooksett was not creating it's own ambulance service because the voters said no, so the council bought a rescue vehicle and not an ambulance. So now why are we starting an ambulance service? As a registered voter who participated in that vote I am angry-I said NO! Just who do the town councilors think they are to ignore the vote by circumventing the vote and using impact fees or by saying that the ambulance itself wasn't in the article, just the wages for new employees? When are the shenanigans going to stop? The town council should be ashamed of themselves. You let the people of this town down-again.

I was at the town council meeting which discussed this issue a couple weeks back and clearly articulated that it is WRONG for this project to go through without another town vote. When the council last asked the people of Hooksett they said NO! Is this a good idea for Hooksett? After discussions with some I've decided it is worth consideration. Is it what Hooksett voters wanted? No! If the council wants voters to support such measures then the council needs to make a clear case! Simply put the council asked and we, the voters and residents of Hooksett, said no and now the council has decided to go ahead and do it anyway. They bought a vehicle without our support, added staff without our support and are now making this a full time operation .. all without our support for the initiative. Again, I am sure the Fire and Rescue folks will do a fine job .. but that is not the issue. The issue here is we, the people of Hooksett, were asked to vote on something .. we said no .. and now the town council has gone ahead and done it anyway. What kind of representative government is that?

The people of Hooksett said no and it happened anyway. Lucky for the fire department that the Ouellette's, Rudy and others... like them or this would be a huge issue. Equipment, personnel, benefits!!! Like that will not continue to increase while Tri-Town which has provided many years of excellent service is cast aside. Cast aside, as Hooksett needs or wants to spend a whole lot more money. You thought the Safety Center sign cost was high. What till you see what this costs Hooksett, no matter what the voters say. I was also told that the Police Department turned back approx. $100,00.00 per the request of David Jodoin and Paul Loiselle so Air Conditioning could be purchased for the Town Hall. It was purchased and installed. Rudy, just for the sake of transparancy, what line item or vote did the town spend that money from? Is the Fire Department now going to be targeted by a select few for the blatant disregard of the wishes of the voters in Hooksett? Maybe the budget committee will try to cut their budget. I doubt it.

There was a public hearing on a SATURDAY, where the budget was discussed and deliberated. There was free food, drinks, (non-alcoholic), and all the documentation anyone could want. Guess how many of you citizens showed up? Not counting the town volunteers; zero. That's zip, nada, zilch. Show up or shut up. Vote, or leave town biz to those who actually care. It is the complainers who never show that gave us this economic disaster. You are the ones to blame for my kids' future tax bills. So, bleep you.

Some people do workon Saturdays. However I did manage to vote no the first time with the rest of the citizens of Hooksett when it was on the ballot. Who knew they would just disregard the votes and do as they wish. Shut up? I think not. I voted on this already. Can we just bypass the voters in Hooksett whenever we want. No means no unless you find a way to do an end around on the public. Just watch and see what this will cost you in the future. Maybe we need two child librarians???

The Saturday sessions are workshops for both the Town Council and the Budget Committee, not public sessions. Public sessions are officially posted in advance, and that is where any citizen may offer input. On Thursday March 5th the Hooksett Budget Committee held a public session at 7:00pm that was properly posted prior to the meeting. Only 1 citizen stepped forward to ask questions of the Budget Committee; although I may not totally agree with some of his comments, I do applaud him for stepping up and participating. So my question to you mogabe is: where were you? Maybe before you refer to profanities, accusations and insults that are directed toward the voters you could "walk the talk".    

Will Hooksett Fire and Rescue be running a Paramedic Ambulance like Tri-Town Ambulance runs, or will the level of medical care only be provided by EMT-I's?  At this time Hooksett only has Firefighters that are EMT-I.   This means the level of care to the citizens of Hooksett with be less then what they are getting now.    

Great point Mary M. But I am sure that the Town Council has a plan for that too. But remember, this approach will save money or make money in the long run won't it?? At what cost to the citizens which have been served very well by Tri-Town ambulance?

An ambulance service will only make as much as the town goes after in billing. An ambulance in not a "money maker". Do I agree that the town will best be served by their own fire department taking over the ambulance? Absolutly...but they need to have the same medical staffing to insure that. There is a hugh difference between an EMT-I (intermediate) and a EMT-P (paramedic) in there level of care. Yes they can call for a "Paramedic intercept" out of Mancester or Concord, but that delays care which is what they are trying to change. My question is are they going to hire, which will cost more money, or just run at the lower level? Which will effect the fine citizens of Hooksett. This is a year off, but Firefighter/Paramedics are hard to come by with so many town and city fire departments running with Paramedics on their ambulances now. Like I said, I agree that a fire department should run their own ambulance for the fast response and care, however if not staffed at the paramedic level the cost to the citizens will be in the lesser level of patient care they will recieve.

Just for the record, Margaret (or should I say Commissioner) this year's budget committee was not involved in the plans to institute the new ambulance by July 2010. The vote to end the Tri-Town Ambulance contract was voted on by Town Council last week on their own. I was as stunned to hear it as you are, and I was there! I also see this action as a lack of transparency and a bit disingenuous of them, as you do too. I am not involved, and untiI I hear more about the supporting facts, will say right here that I do not support this week's Council vote at this time... JUST LIKE YOU! Although I was one of two citizens present in the audience to witness that vote, I also do in fact AGREE with you all. When I was hearing it myself during that Council meeting, my first thought was as well that this is circumventing the voters' wishes of last year. I therefore strongly resent your implication and accusation that I am somehow involved in this decision or have a motive to "like them." So there... I don't "like or dislike" the Fire Dept more than your Police Dept, Sir Margaret. "Liking" is irrelevant to this discussion, truly silly and sophmoric, and shows a personal motive on YOUR part to be critical of me without knowing my position on it. Why are you attacking me for it? I have nothing to do with it! I do not hold favorites in my opinions of town government and its officials, rather every one of my comments ever made at meetings has been documented and based on the "process" by which decisions are being made. THAT is where the transparency (spelled right) lies - in the process. It is irrelevant to me whether a decision is the right one to make or the wrong one... the officials have been elected to make decisions for the citizens, period. What matters to ME is whether those decisions are based on the "process" being followed to make those decisions. I do my homework before addressing town officials...including you. I have my own questions about the Fire's ambulance service actions too, just as you all do. So rather than complain about it and attack me on this forum, as you seem to want to restrict this discussion, why don't you attend the next Town Council meeting and express these concerns to the Councilors or Fire Chief yourself in person. Once I gather all my facts, and talk with my district councilor, that is what I plan to do. I do it the responsible way by doing my research first, and not tossing accusations out, or just throwing verbal darts at the messengers.

This will not make money. I would like to see the business plan that shows that revenue. We paid ~$80k/year for complete service. I would liek to hear from Tri-Town to see how bad their service actually was. $150,000 investment in the ambulance, $50,000/per year in a billing service (Medicaid, medicare reimbursemet?, uninsured?), Consumable costs and inventory (gear inside the vehicle), Staff to cover the shifts, liability insurance) This is a bad idea. Ambulance serivce by a town is supposedly a breakeven service. From what I have found, >50% of reimbursements are from Medicaid - good luck collecting that.

Thank you for those on the money comments Todd. Very well put. Wonder who will work full-time to collect fees from patients, medicare, etc.... Probably another new employee with a full benefit package. Rudy, while you take offense to some comments that you think were sophmoric, I can't help but notice that you are very quick to do the same. Shame on you Mr. Miville. Funny how anyone supportive of the police department is now a police commissioner. Wrong you are Mr. Miville. I also support the government of the United States but I am not the President. I resent the "Sir" comment. Maybe your sources falsely reported my position and gender. This is a very important issue facing all Hooksett residents. Have you considered that there are in fact some residents that work second shift and can not attend committee meetings held during the week after hours? I do try to speak to people that I consider to be well informed on Town Issues and concerns. Glad to hear that you do not throw accusations out there even though you do, as evidenced by your reference to me as a commissioner. You are right Mr. Miville that the officials are elected to make decisions for the people. Even after the citizens officially said no and then had their wishes cast aside as they did what they wished even after a no vote. I guess anyone who voted for this on the town council should be replaced. That is not doing right for the citizens they represent. Good luck to Tri-Town and all your wonderful employees who have given faithful service to the citizens of Hooksett. As someone who has needed your services in the past, thank you.

Hey mogabe .. I did vote and I did show up. The council did whatever they wanted anyway which was not what we (the citizens) voted for or wanted. So .. I guess I really don't see your argument. My point is simply "the voters voted for one thing and council DID something else". That is not representative government!

Please, read the Warrant Article again. Then, check last year's vote for Fire Dept. hires. Then, ask your Fire Dept. what they think. Public safety is more important than popularity. Doing what is unpopular in the process of conscientiously performing the duties entrusted by the electorate, is what a true statesman does. I think the Council did as it should have: protect the people of Hooksett. PS. All should do their homework, before commenting about collections, etc. I don't know where that $50K quote came from. From the atmosphere? I do know where the vehicle purchase $ came from: contractor's impact fees, not the taxpayers. PPS. Pardon the "bleep" comment. It was late and Pres. Obama was preaching again. The only stimulus he has produced is in the firearms industry. He is not a statesman. He's a carney for the big banks and thieves who are stealing from our children.