LYNDEBOROUGH – The warrant article asked voters “to authorize the Board of Selectmen to endorse moving the Wilton Ambulance operations currently located at 404 Forest Road to the Wilton Fire Station, located at 102 Main Street.”

The 37 residents at Town Meeting on Saturday, March 12, unanimously declined to do so, although they acknowledged that staying with the Wilton service was the best option available.

Wilton Selectman Kermit Williams, Ambulance Director Sherry Miller, Fire Chief Don Nourse, and several members of the ambulance crew attended.

The main objections to the move were an increase in response time and the lack of definite numbers that the move would cost, including cost of repairing the current building, and why a director would be needed after the move since Wilton has a full-time fire chief.

Town Administrator Russ Boland said it appeared that Lyndeborough would save about $5,000, but response time for 75 percent of the town would increase by up to five minutes. “We need a cost analysis of both moving and staying.”

Miller said the “average response time” is six to eight minutes.” She said of the current building, “It is old and doesn’t meet our needs. It would cost us less if we move.”

Williams said Wilton did not addressed the issue at their town meeting, waiting for the response from Lyndeborough and Greenfield. “Wilton and Lyndeborough have been connected for a long time and our departments work well together. We need to recognize that we are partners.” No decision has been made.

Resident Kevin Boette said he had been following the discussion for some time “and I don’t think this is the right move for us. First, the response time, second, keeping two administrators, and third, Greenfield has to be considered.”

Ownership of the current building is also a problem, and is in court for an answer. It was purchased by the Ambulance Association, which no longer exists, and at the time it was dissolved, Temple was member.

Selectman Chairman Fred Douglas cited rising costs for the service, about which no one complained. “If this budget continues to go up,” estimated this year at 65 percent, “I don’t want to look at other options. Right now we are locked in. We have to give a year’s notice if we want to leave.” He added, “I don’t think this has been thought through. I don’t want to have to say to a resident, I’m sorry it took longer for the ambulance to get here, but we saved $5,000.”

Boette added, “Not enough research has gone into repairing (the present) building. I would like a detailed report of specific costs.”

Lyndeborough’s medical response team was mentioned, the volunteers who generally show up before the ambulance.

Lyndeborough Fire Chief Brian Smith said they made 106 medical calls last year. “My position is to protect townspeople. Our territory is odd-shaped. (Getting to) North Lyndeborough can take a long time. New Boston can get there quicker. We are all volunteers, three members of the Highway Department ore firemen. Volunteers are a dying breed, but we will continue to do what we can.” He did not take a position on the question.

Asked what needed to be done now for the current building, Miller said an exhaust system and some electrical work. “And we have one bunkroom for men and women.” She said she could not predict costs five years from now.

Miller also noted that the two services are separate, will be in different parts of the fire station. “We are totally different services.

Williams said they need to “spend more time with the advisory committee. We had hoped for your support, but this is not a done deal.”

In other business on Saturday, voters approved an operating budget of $2,406,865 with little discussion.

Budget Committee Chairman Karen Grybko said the budget had increased about $78,000 or 4.6 percent. They began the budget process with an increase of about 16 percent which they found unacceptable.

“The only place we could find to cut without hurting the town was in the paving line.”

However, the selectmen offered, if they would restore the paving, to take all of the proposed contributions to capital reserve funds out of the town’s unexpended fund balance. The budget committee agreed.

Articles 3 through 13, the contributions for bridges, trucks and other equipment, were therefore passed with no comment.

Article 14 was the purchase of a new one-ton truck to replace the 2016 vehicle, which has caused problems from its beginning, It is now considered unrepairable, following a $12,000 “catastrophic failure.”

After agreeing to take $77,000 from a reserve fund to buy the new truck, voters changed the purpose of the fund to “2022 truck.”

Moderator Walter Holland, who is celebrating his 20th year in the position, announced that this year “there will be Memorial Day parade.”

He also asked for a moment of silence in memory of previous moderator “Bud McEntee.”

The meeting lasted about three hours.