Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer presented town updates at the last Select Board meeting, including the approval of a new contract with Beauport Ambulance Service, jointly with Swampscott.
Kezer presented the specifics of a contract that covers service for the two communities of Marblehead and Swampscott, as “the two towns combined create enough critical mass of activity,” he said.
The joint agreement is a three-year contract modeled on the previous one, and represents no additional cost for Marblehead.
This new contract, approved before the Select Board, was conceived to “protect the interests” of each town individually, notably in case of retraction of one party, Kezer explained.
Its priority is to attain quality service levels and competitive response times – under six minutes after a first call, said Beauport President John Morris.
Beauport Ambulance Service was established by Morris’ father in 1984. Morris has been the owner of the company since 2005.
Units will be dedicated to both towns. “We have all the equipment and all the staff,” Morris said.
Beauport also serves Rockport, Essex, and Manchester-by-the-Sea, and provides primary backup for Gloucester, Hamilton, and Beverly. The company is committed to giving back 5% of its total profits to community organizations.
Morris and Marblehead Fire Chief Jason Gilliland are currently looking to establish an additional location in Marblehead.
“It’s nice to have an ambulance service in town that is there when we need it,” Chief Gilliland said, expressing his confidence in Beauport’s ability to cover the town under Morris’ leadership.
