Giving Thanks To Those Who Helped Build A New Home For Our Ambulance Company

Madison lost a committed community leader when Ruth Burris passed away in April.

But she was there in spirit Friday afternoon when the new ambulance center and garage was dedicated. Not only was she represented by her husband, children, and grandchildren, she was thanked many times by those who knew her and knew how much she would have loved the new home for the ambulance company and the new senior center, which should be finished sometime next month.

Thanks were also extended to many others who helped with the project, including Tom Scarpati, head of the town's Senior Center/Ambulance Center Building Committee; KBE Building Corp.; East Wharf Associates; Town Engineer Mike Ott and town officials past and current.

Thanks given to Madison taxpayers

Town officials also thanked the town's taxpayers for approving the combined ambulance/senior center projects, which cost $5.5 million.

"It occurs to me that a good thing happened here today by the community for the community," said Selectman Al Goldberg, who was cited as one of many who helped make the project happen. "Access to and availability of healthcare ... makes us feel secure and part of a community. I want to express my appreciation to taxpayers who had the judgment and wisdom to see how this would add to the community."

Scarpati, in a speech he gave at the ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday afternoon, noted that the first referendum for the ambulance garage and senior center failed with a price tag of $6.6 million. Town officials then worked together to get the cost down to $5.5 million. After a "Yes, Yes, Yes" campaign, pushing the passage of ambulance facility, the senior center, and the town and school budget, all three passed.

New senior center scheduled to open soon

The new senior center is scheduled to open sometime in the middle to the end of November, Scarpati said.

"This was a huge group effort," said First Selectman Fillmore McPherson, who gave a speech after Scarpati. "But you left one name off the list," he said to Scarpati. "Yours ... without your leadership, Tom, we'd still be standing in the depot parking lot (where the old ambulance garage was located)." 

Madison Ambulance Association Board President Samuel DeBurra, Jr. thanked the town's Board of Finance, Board of Selectmen, building committee, KBE, East Wharf Architects, several other individuals, and organizations, and his wife Kathy DeBurra, who served as the town's Senior Services Director until October of last year and has served the town in several other capacities, including that of a dedicated volunteer.

Thank you, Ruth

DeBurra also thanked Ruth Burris.

"Ruth had a big heart," DeBurra said. "She would just light up a room. She was president of the board that started this whole process and was on the senior commission. She was committed to whatever project she got in to. She made sure she got everyone's input and she made sure that input got included in the process."

DeBurra then presented a plaque that will be used to honor outstanding ambulance association employees for exemplary service, in Burris' name. Employees who are "generous, committed, and dedicated" will be recognized on the plaque, he said.

The new center includes a dedicated training room with a wide array of high-tech training equipment, including an eno interactive whitboard that was paid for by a $6,000 grant obtained by the ambulance association. Next to the training room is a fully equipped kitchen with table and chairs that were donated. Upstairs are two three-bed bedrooms, each with a bathroom.

"Room to breath and ... work efficiently"

Chris Bernier, the Madison Ambulance Association director, said he is thrilled to have the training room, kitchen, and a standby generator. "This gives us room to breath, and space to work efficiently."

During a recent tropical storm that caused a week-long power outage in the majority of the town, the new building was used by people on oxygen to continue their breathing treatments, he said.

"We have actual cooking appliances," he said. The old ambulance building had a microwave oven. "Here, we can sit down at the donated tables and chairs, have a meal, and build community."