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Fire chief details capital needs; Selectboard authorizes up to $119,000 for replacement truck and outfitting
Summary
The fire chief presented a multiyear capital list — from SCBA bottles and turnout gear washing to a future tanker — and the Selectboard authorized up to $119,000 to buy and outfit a replacement department truck after staff recommended Central Maine Ford as the responsive bidder.
The fire chief walked the Selectboard through the department's capital list, calling attention to immediate equipment needs and long‑range vehicle planning before asking the board to approve a vehicle purchase and outfitting.
"Unit 24 ... it's a 2000 Dodge 3500," the chief said when describing the aging apparatus the department wants to replace. He listed a prioritized set of items: additional SCBA bottles and masks (estimated around $10,000), a rescue boat suitable for Sandy River conditions (deputy chief Wyman pursuing grants), a turnout‑gear washer received by grant in 2009 that should be replaced, backup hydraulic rescue tools, and a tanker that will require replacement in the coming decade.
After staff solicited proposals from several local dealers, Central Maine Ford submitted the only fully responsive bid matching the requested 8‑foot service body and was recommended as the vendor. Staff presented a truck+body bid around $96,362 and additional outfitting (radios, emergency lights, SCBA seats, tires, graphics and professional installation) bringing the department's total purchase estimate to about $118,197. The board authorized the purchase and outfitting up to $119,000 to be paid from the fire equipment reserve.
Board members asked about reuse of older sirens and radios and whether local preference should influence the award. Staff and the chief explained technical fit, state bid advantages for Ford, and that responsiveness and meeting specifications drove the recommendation; staff also noted the equipment reserve balance available to fund the purchase.
The motion to authorize up to $119,000 carried on a voice vote recorded in the transcript as unanimous. Officials said they would proceed with Central Maine Ford as the recommended supplier and complete required outfitting by a professional vendor to ensure equipment is installed to NFP standards.
