Council approves new equipment: Volvo excavator, remount for ambulance 23 and other capital moves

Councilors authorized several capital and equipment moves during the Nov. 17 meeting intended to increase in-house capacity for public-works and emergency services.

Public works staff presented an opportunity to acquire a 2022 Volvo rubber-tire excavator for $186,954.39; council approved the purchase and staff said the machine will expand the city’s ability to perform culvert, cleanup and blight-remediation work in-house, reducing subcontract costs.

Fire and EMS staff requested authorization to remount Ambulance 23 on a new gas chassis and modernize the patient compartment. The remount bid from Autotronics totaled $261,861; a $34,000 Maine sustainability grant that covers a power-load system reduces the city’s net cost to about $227,861. The chief told the council Autotronics will supply a loaner ambulance during the six-month remount. The council authorized the work at a cost not to exceed $227,861.

Councilors also approved routine contract awards earlier in the meeting (audit services) and discussed longer-lead capital needs such as a replacement ladder truck estimated at roughly $1.8 million; staff will return in January with funding options and timing (purchase vs. lease and voter-referral requirements for purchases above charter thresholds).

Why it matters: New equipment accelerates in-house capacity to address blight and infrastructure projects and upgrades an aging ambulance fleet at a lower cost than full replacement. The ladder-truck discussion signals an upcoming large capital ask that will likely require voter approval or a leasing strategy.

What happens next: Public works and fire staff will schedule and manage procurement and remount timelines, incorporate costs into the FY2026 capital improvement plan, and return with recommended funding approaches.