Halifax's old town garage is sitting empty, and Halifax EMS needs a heated place to park its emergency vehicle and store medicines and batteries. So at a special meeting on Dec. 23, members of the rescue squad asked the select board if they might put the old building to use. Meeting minutes state:
Halifax EMS has been considering the old town garage site as a possible solution to their need for a warm, controlled environment in which to house their emergency vehicle, its contents, and their supplies and equipment. In particular, the pharmaceuticals and batteries EMS uses cannot withstand cold temperatures. Presently their squad car is being kept in Christina Moore’s garage, and all personnel are maintaining separate supplies of medicines, which increases expenses.
Halifax EMS asked the select board's permission to have experts look over the building and judge the feasibility of repurposing the garage. The select board, however, has concerns about the plan, including the fact that the site is a brownfield, which town might have to pay to clean it up if the site is being used.
The select board had intended to bring the issue before Halifax voters at Town Meeting. However, meeting minutes state the Vermont League of Cities and Towns advised the town attorney should be consulted on the matter. The board decided to consult the town attorney before deciding on next steps. In the meantime Halifax EMS has been granted access to the building in order to assess the structure and gather cost estimates.
