Last week, Selectman Rich Nunes questioned the cost of Rochester’s in-house EMS service. At Monday’s meeting, he was met with answers from Fire and EMS Chief Scott Weigel as well as about 30 supporters who piled into the Town Hall meeting room.

Nunes was concerned about the cost of the program to the town, which was about $200,000 in fiscal year 2015, more than double 2014. He suggested looking into a private EMS service.

On Monday, Weigel said before the town moved to full-time service about two years ago, his department had become increasingly busy, forcing the town to call in Wareham and Freetown to help. Since moving to a 24/7 service, he said his budget has been around $450,000, $250,000 of which is reimbursed. He also said 2015 was the first year the town moved to a full-time ambulance service.

“It’s not about the money, it’s about being able to provide patient care,” he said. “This is what’s going to provide me with a great ambulance service for the Town of Rochester.”

Weigel added that the townspeople approved his budget.

“The numbers are in front of the people at Town Meeting…and they vote for it,” he said.

During last week’s meeting, Nunes also questioned the efficiency of the system, asking if too many people responded to emergencies.

Weigel said they have no way of knowing how serious an accident is before arriving on the scene and that those who respond are paid by the hour, not a mandatory four-hour fee as was suggested at the previous meeting.

Addressing the possibility of bringing in a private service, Weigel said it would cost the town $500,000 without the benefit of Medicare and insurance reimbursements. Plus, local EMS would still need to be on call.

Dr. Nataniel Vasquez, the EMS medical director for Tobey Hospital, Rochester and other area towns, backed up Weigel.

“This is top notch quality care,” Vasquez said of Rochester. He questioned a private service that would slow down response times.

“I just don’t see that the money is worth that for the people of this town.”

Selectman Brad Morse motioned to table the discussion indefinitely, and he praised the town’s EMS.

“Thank you for putting the system together. I’ve never heard a bad thing about it,” he said as supporters burst into applause.

Naida Parker seconded Morse’s Morse’s motion while Nunes opposed it. The motion carried.