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Alton accepts fire association donation and approves up to $6,000 for Engine 4 repairs
Summary
At its Oct. 14 meeting the Alton Board of Selectmen accepted a $1,920 donation from the Alton Firemen's Association for two emergency vehicle lockout devices and authorized up to $6,000 from the fire capital reserve to complete Engine 4 repairs.
The Alton Board of Selectmen on Oct. 14 accepted a donation of two emergency vehicle “flow”/lockout devices from the Alton Firemen's Association valued at $960 each and approved up to $6,000 from the fire department capital reserve to finish repairs to Engine 4.
The donation was presented by the fire chief, who said the devices mimic vehicle charging-station locks and “render the vehicles inoperable in the event of an emergency” so crews can access patients inside electric vehicles. The board voted to accept the devices; the donation total presented to the board was $1,920.
Separately the chief reported that Engine 4 went into “limp mode” while responding to a call and was taken to a Cummins dealer. The dealer replaced a DEF-related component at a cost of $4,838.28 and found a cracked flex exhaust pipe that will cost about $1,000 to replace because it is an OEM part specific to the apparatus. The chief said the DEF component warranty had already expired.
With operating accounts tight late in the year, the board voted to allow the chief to authorize repairs up to $6,000 and to use the fire department capital reserve for the work. The chief told the board the department’s equipment and capital reserve balance is approximately $1,100,000.
Board members asked clarifying questions about inspection history and whether the truck had been inspected; the chief said the truck was inspected last month and that the DEF issue has been remedied, leaving the exhaust pipe replacement as the outstanding work. The chief said the work can be done in the field by the vendor or at a service location.
The board recorded the motions approving both the donation and the repair authorization during the new-business portion of the meeting. The board also discussed the department’s mileage reimbursements and liability when members use personal vehicles, and the chief said an ancillary town vehicle would reduce such liabilities and reimbursements over time.
