Conway Votes on Ambulance Purchase, Health Insurance Hike, and Infrastructure Upgrades

At a Special Town Meeting in Conway, Massachusetts, residents are set to vote on fourteen articles including significant municipal expenditures and budget adjustments. One key measure involves the purchase of a new ambulance outfitted with a Stryker Power-LOAD System, estimated at $537,857, funded through a combination of Ambulance Stabilization and Reserve funds along with free cash. The new ambulance is expected to arrive in early 2027, replacing a decade-old vehicle. Another major agenda item addresses a 20% increase in health insurance premiums following a rate hike by the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust. This increase comes after the town had planned for an 18% rise for fiscal year 2026. The trust cited escalating pharmaceutical and medical claims, including the popularity of weight-loss drugs, as factors threatening its financial stability. Conway's Selectboard has chosen to remain with the trust while considering a $125,000 transfer from free cash to cover the additional insurance costs for town employees. Budget corrections will also be discussed, including repayment of a decade-long underpaid employee stipend amounting to $23,636. This correction aims to resolve a payroll oversight discovered during budget reviews. Infrastructure improvements constitute another focal point, with proposed allocations for replacing the public safety building garage roof due to leaks, removal of overgrown trees threatening historic gravestones in Howland Cemetery, and fence replacement around a local ballfield. Additional town modernization efforts include funding technology upgrades such as firewall installations and computer enhancements to enable compatibility with Microsoft cloud services. These IT enhancements, estimated at around $38,000, reflect an essential step towards improved cybersecurity and operational efficiency. An ADA compliance assessment funded at $24,321 aims to position the town for future grant opportunities by evaluating accessibility across municipal properties. The agenda further includes cost-saving measures like switching to lower wattage LED streetlights anticipated to halve electricity expenses and amending distribution methods for town reports to reduce mailing costs by making reports primarily available online. Together, these proposals show Conway's efforts to balance fiscal responsibility with necessary capital investments and regulatory compliance.