ANDOVER – At Wednesday night’s public hearing on ambulance coverage, selectmen learned that other than Med-Care Ambulance, their only option is Bethel’s rescue service.

But that would come with strings attached.

Bethel Town Manager Scott Cole and Bethel Rescue Director Cheryl Bennett replied May 21 to an earlier Andover Ambulance Coverage Committee request for proposals. They said Bethel’s ambulance would serve Andover only when dispatched by the Oxford County Regional Communications Center in Paris.

Additionally, they would only do so if Mexico-based Med-Care refused to respond to calls for service in Andover.

Cole further elaborated, saying Bethel’s offer of service would be contingent upon several conditions:

• The service would be offered only for an initial period of 120 days, starting June 7 when Med-Care’s contract with its 11 member towns expires. The nature and level of service would be identical to what Bethel has but response times could not be guaranteed.

• Andover’s first-responder volunteer rescue team would continue to operate.

• Bethel’s patient-billing policy would be applicable to Andover patients taken to medical facilities via Bethel ambulance. Non-transports in response to calls might also result in invoices to cover costs.

• Andover would have to pay Bethel $3,181 no later than midway through the service period.

• If the service period were shortened for any reason, the billing amount of $3,181 would be pro-rated without penalty.

“The addition of Andover to Bethel’s service creates a potential to overburden existing assets and personnel, thus compromising our ability to meet emergency medical needs within the Bethel service area,” Cole stated. “This is why a period not to exceed 120 days has been offered.”

To permanently include Andover for an indefinite period would require significant planning, personnel and equipment on the part of Bethel and Andover beyond the scope of Bethel’s proposal, the letter stated.

“Nevertheless, we also believe that providing primary-response ambulance coverage to neighboring Andover is the right thing to do,” Cole said.