Town to draft emergency ordinance after Wells EMS reports payroll shortfall and requests up to $300,000

At a special meeting April 30, 2026, a representative of the Wells Emergency Medical Services board told the Wells Town Council the ambulance service faces an immediate cash shortfall and asked the town to authorize access to up to $300,000 to cover payroll and essential expenses.

“We’re in jeopardy of maybe not meeting the next payroll, which is a dangerous situation to be in,” said Brian, a WEMS board representative, summarizing recent payouts and an imminent payroll of about $60,000.

The request matters because the service reported it had roughly $122,000 in the bank earlier in the week, paid about $10,000 for a lease and a medical invoice that same week and expects revenue receipts usually arriving mid‑May. Brian said increased reliance on Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements — about 75% of runs this year versus a typical 60–65% — and an $80,000 shortfall last quarter have strained the service’s cash flow.

“The ask from the WEMS board is if you could grant us revenues up to $300,000 if and when we need it,” Brian said. He added the board would first rely on its own revenue and did not expect to need the full amount but wanted assurance the town could cover payroll and other obligations through the fiscal year, which ends June 30.

A council member moved to provide funding up to $300,000 to cover WEMS debt through the end of the fiscal year. A staff member pointed out that, under the town charter, an appropriation of this type must be made by ordinance. Council members agreed to treat the motion as an announcement of intent and to place an emergency ordinance and emergency appropriation on the next meeting agenda rather than vote at the special meeting.

A town staff member said the ordinance draft would be revised and circulated ahead of the next meeting; Leah was named as the staffer who would distribute the revised draft. No formal vote on funding was taken at the April 30 meeting.

The meeting closed after brief thanks to WEMS volunteers and staff. The council plans to consider the emergency ordinance at its next scheduled meeting on Tuesday.