Council authorizes $50,000 advance payment for used fire truck; residents press for transparency on firefighter-union lawsuit

The Brownsburg Town Council on Nov. 20 authorized staff to make a $50,000 down payment on a used fire truck the executive board had selected as a replacement for a vehicle wrecked earlier in the year. Fire leadership told the council the truck has been vetted and that the vendor requested the deposit to secure the unit; delivery is expected around mid-December. The chief said insurance is expected to cover the truck cost (staff cited a figure near $650,000) and that any overages after insurance would be addressed; the chief also said the town would submit receipts to the insurer for reimbursement.

During the public-comment period, resident David Wyant raised concerns about the town’s and the Fire Territory’s handling and disclosure of legal costs tied to a pending lawsuit involving the International Firefighters Union. Wyant cited a demand letter dated Aug. 9, 2024, that he said included proposed solutions and a request for communication prior to initiating litigation; he said the federal lawsuit was filed May 5, 2025, and asked why the town or the Fire Territory executive board had not managed or disclosed the matter earlier. The council president responded that town attorneys had been attempting to communicate with the union’s legal team but had not received responses, and that some details became clear to the town when the news of the filing broke.

Council moved and seconded a motion to authorize the advance payment for the fire truck; council members approved by voice vote. The chief said the town is coordinating with the court treasurer and the insurer on timing of payment and reimbursement and expects to reconcile the insurance proceeds once claims are processed.