Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Select Board and fire committee discuss vehicle replacement, SCBA bottle schedule and fire station color
Summary
Board and fire committee members reviewed the department's vehicle replacement timetable, debated staggered replacement of self‑contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) bottles versus bulk replacement, and raised concerns about the exterior color choice for the nearly completed new fire station.
At the Aug. 12 select board meeting, fire department leaders and board members discussed long‑term equipment planning, budget implications and finish‑work for the new fire station.
The fire committee reviewed a vehicle replacement schedule and depreciation fund levels, noting past purchases (including a truck costing roughly $225,000) and flagging that vehicle and equipment prices have risen. The board discussed options to purchase heavy equipment through purchasing consortia such as Sourcewell to access state bid pricing and reduce the need for voter approval for small capital purchases.
Chief Chris Clark and committee members debated how to budget for self‑contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) replacement. The committee explained that the full packs were replaced six years ago because bottles had changed; the board discussed replacing only the bottles (not the packs) and whether to stretch replacements over multiple years (for example, starting replacements at year 12 and staggering purchases to avoid a single large outlay). The board noted NFPA requirements that a spare bottle be available for every pack and discussed storage and testing logistics.
Separately, several members expressed disappointment that the new fire station’s upper elevations appear bronze rather than the red color shown in earlier drawings. The board agreed to coordinate a walkthrough with JP (clerk of the works) and the chiefs to identify punch‑list items and to press for aesthetic or finish changes before move‑in if feasible.
No formal votes were taken on long‑range replacement timing or station color; the board requested additional follow‑up and a possible future vote as budgets are developed this fall.
