Funds sought to continue bus service for patients

Since October, there has been a handicapped-accessible bus available to give residents of Milford, Amherst, Mont Vernon and Brookline rides to non-emergency medical appointments. On Monday night, members of the Souhegan Valley Transportation Cooperative asked Milford selectmen to put a $20,000 article on the warrant in March to keep the program going.

More than half of the 192 rides given over the service’s first 2-1/2 months were for Milford residents, said Ruth Heden, one of four SVTC members who came to the meeting.

The pilot program is paid for with a foundation grant, “and we don’t want you to think we can keep going back to the foundation,” Janet Langdell told the board. She said the service is for all residents, not just senior citizens. Selectmen said they are not sure they want to offer a warrant article and are trying to keep taxes flat. Town Administrator Guy Scaife told the group to prepare a complete plan for the voting public and said the new administration in Washington might offer federal matching funds.