By Adam Swift
The town is moving forward with a new ambulance service.
In his report to the town council this week, Town Manager Tony Marino stated that after much deliberation with the town’s public safety leaders, the town has decided to move forward with Cataldo Ambulance starting on Sept. 8.
“Cataldo has better coverage in the area as they currently serve Revere, Chelsea, Everett, Lynn, Salem, Malden, and Somerville, as well as other nearby towns,” Marino stated. “They currently own a facility in Winthrop that they will now staff and keep an ambulance in Town. Given the regionalization efforts with Revere and Chelsea and other neighboring communities, we are confident Cataldo will provide excellent ambulance service, within acceptable industry standard response times.”
The discussion over ambulance service in Winthrop was a big issue following the death of 2-year-old Yuna Feeley from cardiac arrest in January of 2024. Firefighters responded quickly to the scene, but Action Ambulance did not have an ambulance nearby to transport the toddler to the hospital. Fire Chief Scott Wiley ended up transporting the child in his vehicle.
In addition to looking at the ambulance service and contract with Action Ambulance, Marino and Wiley previously stated that the town was engaged in an urgent effort to modernize and expand its emergency medical services at a municipal level through increased training and certifications.
The new contract with Cataldo will also allow the town to pull additional resources when needed during large-scale emergency medical and fire incidents.
“Cataldo was our ambulance provider before Action was hired and worked successfully in Winthrop for approximately 23 years from 1986 through 2005 and then from 2008-2011,” Marino stated.
In other business, Marino announced that the Fire Station Building Committee has voted on a new architect and designer for the new $38.5 million fire station to be constructed on Pauline Street at the Old Middle School site.
“I have started contract negotiations with Kaestle & Boos Associates, Inc. (KBA),” stated Marino. “We look forward to working with KBA as we move forward with the design of the building.”
KBA was the architect the town used for the preliminary study for a new fire station prior to the successful debt exclusion vote in the spring.
Marino also announced that the water and sewer combined rate will be increasing by 57 cents for a new combined water/sewer rate of $26.84.
“This is a 2.17% increase over the FY25 rate of $26.27,” Marino stated. “I will have the full presentation for the Town Council at our meeting on August 12.”