The Town of Brownsburg Executive Board on Oct. 21 authorized Fire Chief Harvey to work with legal to place a $50,000 deposit toward purchase of a used 2015, 100-foot rear-mount ladder platform located in New Jersey.

The deposit authorization, passed by unanimous voice vote during the board’s Oct. 21 executive meeting, allows the chief and the town attorney to negotiate contract terms and attempt to secure refundable-deposit language. Chief Harvey told the board the department found the truck through a targeted search and that he and Captain Michocki inspected the unit on site.

Why it matters: the department’s prior ladder unit was declared a total loss after an accident, and the board is seeking a replacement to restore front-line ladder capability. Chief Harvey said the vendor will perform modifications and install transferred equipment off the wrecked ladder at no charge, leaving the truck largely ready for service except for lettering.

Details from the discussion: Chief Harvey and Captain Michocki reported the vehicle has about 12,000 miles and a clocked engine-hours reading the department recorded during inspection. The seller’s price with modifications was described as roughly $650,000; Chief Harvey said the insurer’s initial settlement offer was in the same range. Board members said they hoped the insurer’s payout could be higher and asked staff to press for a favorable settlement before final purchase.

Board members asked whether the $50,000 deposit would be refundable; Chief Harvey said the department had not yet remitted the deposit and that legal would try to secure refundability, noting sellers do not always agree to refundable deposits. One board member emphasized that the formal purchase and any appropriation would return to the board for approval.

The board also discussed disposition of related assets: the wrecked ladder (E1) would be turned over to the insurer and a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe (134,500 miles) would be placed for sale via the town’s municipal bidding process. The board set a minimum insurance recovery target for the wrecked ladder at $655,000 to “keep us even,” a figure discussed during the motion to dispose and accept settlement offers.

The deposit motion passed without recorded opposition. Staff said further documentation, final purchase approval and any required appropriation would come back to the board at a future meeting.