HARRISON — Harrison voters approved $40,326 for a one-year contract with United Ambulance Service during a special town meeting July 30.

The money will be transferred from the town’s undesignated fund balance, or surplus account.

Town Manager Cass Newell summarized the contract, saying that the service will not change and the status quo will remain.

“They will dispatch to calls on an as-needed basis for area EMS and first responders for the town of Harrison,” Newell said.

The only change is that now United is charging the towns of Bridgton, Denmark, Harrison, and Sweden $282 per first-responder call. The rate was set during a previous contract negotiation with the town of Bridgton, Newell has said.

Newell first informed the select board of United Ambulance’s intent during a June 13 business meeting. There had not been enough notice to include the anticipated expense as an article on the Harrison’s annual town meeting warrant. The annual town meeting had been held one day earlier.

Two public hearings were held on the matter before the special town meeting.

Currently, United provides about 55% of Harrison’s first responder calls, with PACE Ambulance Service in Norway covering the rest.

On July 11, Newell told selectmen that PACE has confirmed it will continue service at no charge for the remainder of 2024 but may charge in the future, possibly as soon as January.

Patients receiving ambulance service from United and PACE choose whether to be transported to Bridgton Hospital or Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway. Newell had expressed concern that residents living further from Norway than Bridgton could receive poorer patient outcomes if PACE is the only ambulance service available.

The select board recommended transferring the funds to keep United Ambulance Service.