North East unveils new ambulance services contract
Northern Dutchess Paramedics Station 2 is located just south of the village of Millerton on Route 22.
Photo by Nathan Miller

North East unveils new ambulance services contract

MILLERTON — During a board meeting on Thursday, Dec. 12, the North East Town Board discussed the new emergency medical service contract with Northern Dutchess Paramedics, building department fee schedule changes, and a dispute between neighbors.

With respect to emergency services, the Town of North East, Dover and Amenia will be entering into a new three-year contract with EMS provider Northern Dutchess Paramedics. The three towns previously had a five-year legal agreement with the same provider that will expire on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

As part of the agreement, the Town of North East will receive ambulance services starting at $511,558 for 2025. The cost will increase to $696,345 for 2026, and will rise to $746,345 by 2027. In the previous contract Northern Dutchess Paramedics had increased their service fees by 2% each year.

While costs are concerning, the length of the contract is flexible. “We can terminate it at any time,” said Warren Replansky, the town’s attorney. “We’re not bound for the increases for next year and the year after. We’re hoping that something will happen in the interim, if there’s some relief. It’s a real problem that all municipalities are suffering from … the cost of ambulance service to communities has skyrocketed, part of it due to COVID, part of it due to inflation.”

The town negotiated with Northern Dutchess Paramedics over the originally stated cost of services, which would have started at $646,345 and increased its budget by 71% compared to the EMS budget during 2024.

“I certainly don’t want to be the one board member to say we won’t have an ambulance service because you just don’t want that to happen,” said Councilman Ralph Fedele, who pointed out North East’s unique needs. “A city like Poughkeepsie that has a high population and a lot of turnover, they don’t have the problems that we have,” he said. “The state has got to realize that, and there has to be some help coming. There has to be because it isn’t fair for a town like ours to start taking money out of our reserves.”

Another item discussed during the meeting centered on the approval of changes to the Town of North East building department fee schedule, which would have been effective beginning Wednesday, Jan. 1. It has been tabled until the next town board meeting.
“I don’t agree with increasing the burden of any resident to increase the fee of $25 to $60 because, personally, I’d like to encourage folks to make improvements or to build and there’s things in this about improvements to food trucks, and we don’t have food trucks in the town of North East,” said councilwoman Megan Winkler, “For those reasons, at this moment in time, I can’t support an increase.”

Two concerned residents on Cooper Road also attended the meeting with concerns regarding an illegal dwelling in the area during the public comment portion of the meeting. In addition to their comments, a brief video was played which apparently recorded an altercation with some of the involved parties.

Latest News

Family Services’ new building will accommodate child behavior service

POUGHKEEPSIE — New mental health care access is coming to Northern Dutchess County as the demand for mental health services has been increasing.

Family Services Inc., an outpatient mental health clinic, has outgrown their facility, which was located at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck. Now, the incorporation is upgrading to a much larger location in Rhinebeck that is expected to open late this year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Planning Board hears Cumberland Farms wastewater treatment plan

Cumberland Farms gas station on Route 343 in downtown Amenia.

Photo by Nathan Miller

AMENIA — Expanding the capacity for wastewater handling at the Cumberland Farms site along Route 343, the Planning Board at its regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 12, discussed the plans and referred the project on to Dutchess County officials for decision.

Representing Cumberland Farms was Caryn Mlodzianowski, project engineer for Bohler Engineering of Albany, specialists in engineering challenging sites.

Keep ReadingShow less
North East talks fire aid, taxes, cell towers and more at board meeting

MILLERTON — The Town of North East held a board meeting on Thursday, Feb. 13, to create a “memorandum of understanding” contract between the Village of Millerton and the town, explaining how the town will assist the village after its Highway and Water Department building caught fire on Feb. 3.

“The resolution authorizes the town superintendent of highways to assist the Village of Millerton and its highway department with plowing, repair and maintenance of the village highways,” supervisor Chris Kennan said. “Pursuant to provisions of section 142e of the Highway Law, during the period of the Village’s state of emergency.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Village board weighs impact of garage fire; discusses sidewalk work

Village of Millerton offices on Route 22

John Coston

MILLERTON — On Monday, Feb. 10, a board meeting was held, largely centered on the impact of the Feb. 3 fire that destroyed the Village Water and Highway building located on Route 22. In addition to the loss of the building, vehicles, equipment and tools were also destroyed.

“If we go back to the cause, it is still undetermined,” said mayor Jenn Najdek, who stated foul play had been ruled out. She also confirmed the garage remained off-limits as the investigation is still ongoing.

Keep ReadingShow less