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Selectmen approve fire department joining federal surplus equipment program; final vehicle choice to return to board
Summary
The Alton Board of Selectmen voted to allow the fire department to join a federal surplus equipment program so it can pursue passenger vehicles for nonemergency training and transport; any specific vehicle acquisition will return to the board for final approval.
The Alton Board of Selectmen voted to allow the fire department to join a federal surplus equipment program so department personnel can identify and reserve passenger vehicles for training and nonemergency transport.
Town Administrator (unnamed) told the board the paperwork before members is the agreement to join the federal surplus program and does not commit the town to a specific vehicle. "This isn't a proposal for any specific vehicle," the administrator said. "What this will allow them to do is basically get to that point of finding a vehicle and operating within the program." The administrator added that the program is run through the fire service and that vehicles acquired under the program must be returned to the program when no longer suitable for town use.
The administrator said the intent is to obtain a civil passenger vehicle — not an outfitted emergency response vehicle — for routine travel to training and other assignments so the town's primary response vehicles are preserved for emergencies. "It's not intended to be outfitted. It's not intended to to be a response vehicle to, to fires or things of that nature. It's more intended for everyday use," the administrator said.
A board member moved the motion to authorize the town to join the program and permit the fire department to pursue available vehicles and report back; another member seconded. The board voiced its approval; there was no roll-call vote recorded in the minutes. The administrator said the department would return to the board with the specific vehicle, mileage and proposed use before any final acquisition.
Key details provided in the discussion: the example vehicle shown to the board (a Ford F-150) had roughly 27,000 miles and the only cost to the town would be transportation of the vehicle if it is located out of state. Under the program the town cannot buy surplus vehicles outright or sell them for profit — the program requires returning the vehicle when it is no longer useful to the town.
The vote authorized enrollment in the program only; final approval of any specific vehicle remains with the Board of Selectmen.
