BRATTLEBORO — This hearing was supposed to be an opportunity for citizens of Brattleboro to have a voice in their choice for emergency medical care.
Instead, those attending were blindsided by a panel of town department heads reading prepared speeches in support of the fire-EMS model.
For the attendees, it was a classic bait-and-switch by the town. After we were being lectured to by Town Manager John Potter (to behave) from "we want to hear what you have to say" to Sunday, when "we are here telling you what we want."
Take note that the department heads have no skin in the game. None. Nada. All but two do not live in Brattleboro, and at least one doesn't even live in Vermont! They do not pay Brattleboro taxes, and the change will not affect them. In fact, many live in consortium towns served by Rescue. How hypocritical is that?
Rescue is able to provide state of the art care, is equipped, is staffed, and has a proven capability which is nationally recognized and awarded. The "powers that be" in Brattleboro should be so proud and feel so grateful to have this organization ready, willing and able to serve them. They should have (as the saying goes) .been thanking their lucky stars, rather than tearing the system apart.
Remember, they have said that they don't care if it costs more. That should tell everyone a lot. Remember, too, that it will not be coming out of the pockets of the department heads supporting the fire ems model but it most definitely will be coming out of the pockets of the taxpayers.
This Voices Letters from readers was submitted to The Commons.