BREAKING NEWS: Mount Desert voters approve funding for town ambulance/fire services
SOMESVILLE, March 9, 2022 - A special town meeting Tuesday attended by a surprising number of residents overwhelmingly approved all nine articles, including a $1 million bond for the Somesville firehouse upgrade to provide 24/7 coverage.
More than 100 residents easily met the 50-person quorum. About 80 voters supported all the initiatives.
Fire Chief Mike Bender said he is confident he will be able to fill the eight newly approved positions by this summer.
The town is taking over the ambulance service, which was a private, volunteer non-profit operation since 1938.
The 24/7 coverage out of Northeast Harbor and Somesville for both fire and ambulance required the addition of personnel from the current five-person staff, including the chief. The department also pays “on-call” volunteers.
Bender said he believes a more attractive work schedule helped recruitment of fire fighters from other MDI towns and from off island.
Voters will be asked at the annual town meeting in May to approve $5.2 million to upgrade the firehouse in Northeast Harbor.
In addition to the fire department, voters approved several land use ordinance changes giving more authority to the code enforcement officer on updated private road specifications.