Sudbury committee reviews vehicle replacements: reserve fire engine, ambulance and DPW trucks on capital list

Committee members reviewed multiple rolling-stock requests in the town manager’s proposed capital list, including a reserve fire engine, an ambulance replacement and DPW vehicle replacements.

Sandra said the fire department requested an emergency purchase for a reserve engine after Engine 1 (a 2005 pumper) failed safety inspection due to frame rot. ‘‘This purchase will provide us with a dedicated reserve vehicle…’’ she said, and the estimated cost presented to the committee was $725,000. Sandra told the committee delivery typically takes 18 to 24 months.

The ambulance request covers replacement timing and funding sources. Sandra said the current primary ambulance (purchased in 2015) has 73,000 miles; new units take about 30 months to build and a typical life expectancy is seven to ten years. Committee members sought clarity on whether the ambulance expense is net of funds in the ambulance-receipts fund; Sandra located budget text stating the funding source is ambulance receipts and noted the committee would follow up at Capital Night.

DPW vehicle items included replacement of older 6-wheel dump trucks and park-and-grounds four-wheel dump trucks. Committee members asked why later-year price entries declined in the spreadsheet; staff said the spreadsheet used placeholders aligned to the town’s vehicle-replacement schedule and lifecycle assumptions (10–15 years depending on vehicle). Committee members also asked for vendor quotes where available and clarification whether pictured units represented firm quotes or placeholders.

No formal votes to commit funding were taken; the items remain on the Capital Night agenda with requests for clearer quotes and fund-source documentation.