NORTHFIELD — Northfield EMS has the chance to move into a larger space in Bernardston, pending approval during an upcoming Special Town Meeting.

The meeting will be held Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at Pioneer Valley Regional School.

Over the last 12 years, there have been three proposals to help Northfield EMS move into a newer, larger space, including a $13.5 million public safety complex that was voted down by residents in May 2023. But a new approach has been suggested by the Building Committee, which includes Northfield Selectboard member Barbara “Bee” Jacque, Finance Committee Chair Dan Campbell and Barry Bordner.

“The conclusion that we reached quickly is we’re going to have to do individual department solutions,” Jacque told attendees of an information session focusing on the six-article Special Town Meeting warrant articles, held Wednesday at Northfield Elementary School. “One big building on Main Street is just not feasible at this point.”

During the fall meeting, Northfield voters will consider Articles 4 and 5 that, with a two-thirds majority vote, would allow the town’s EMS to start the process of buying and moving into the Valley Concrete & Construction property at 546 Northfield Road (Route 10) in Bernardston.

Northfield EMS serves Bernardston, Erving and Gill, and is currently housed at 41 Main St. inside a former gas station that was built in the 1960s. The department’s building is 1,488 square feet with a lot size of 13,068 square feet.

The 15,680-square-foot facility in Bernardston on just over 3 acres of land would have the ability to fit three ambulances in a heated garage, as well as Highway Department vehicles in a second garage. There would also be more storage space, with an EMS training and simulation room and an area for regional cross-agency training, according to the Building Committee. A Recreation Commission office with record storage can also be housed there.

“This is a unicorn to be able to find a location that’s centralized,” said Northfield EMS Chief Matt Wolkenbreit. “I truly believe that we can turn around in a week, bring our stuff there and continue to operate seamlessly, if not much more efficiently, to serve all of the communities.”

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Although maintenance costs would remain the same, the total costs would differ.

For more than 10 years, it has cost $900 per month, plus annual property taxes, to rent the Northfield facility from The Sandri Companies. This agreement, which equals $12,989 per year, is set to expire in June 2025. By comparison, the Bernardston site would cost $10,478 per year through a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) to Bernardston.

To get the ball rolling on this project, townspeople would have to give their approval of both articles by the required two-thirds majority.

To break it down, Article 4 is to approve using $2.1 million to acquire and outfit the property, transforming it from a concrete production company to an ambulance company, Jacque explained.

The $2.1 million would come from money the town has put aside over the past few years for capital and building expenses. This includes $312,012 from the Sale of Cell Tower Easement Account, nearly $1.11 million from the Emergency Services Building Account and $680,479 from the Capital Stabilization Fund. The town would incur no debt and there would be no impact on property taxes.

“We’re not gonna bleed out money for the emergency services but we’re going to use some of these ... to offset the cost,” Campbell said. “There’s no taxpayer impact for this going down the road.”

Article 5 permits the Selectboard to petition the state Legislature to allow Northfield to buy property in its neighboring town, which Jacque said legislators have been “very supportive” of.

Residents can visit the proposed EMS building during an open house on Saturday, Oct. 26, from noon to 2 p.m.

Other warrant articles include Article 1, which would establish a separate recreation fund to hold fees and fund programs held by the Recreation Commission’s summer, winter and out-of-school time and/or vacation programming; Article 2, which would transfer $3,668 from free cash to the Library Circulation/Substitute Payroll Account; and Article 3, which would transfer the care and control of 19 acres on Swamp Road to the Selectboard to pursue future opportunities.

There is also a citizen’s petition in Article 6 that proposes abolishing the town administrator position and replacing it with an administrative assistant, with a maximum salary of $75,000. The responsibilities and duties of the town administrator would then be reassigned by the Selectboard.

An earlier version of this article included an incorrect name for one of the three Building Committee members. They are Barbara “Bee” Jacque, Dan Campbell and Barry Bordner.