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Fire department pitches replacement for unreliable mini-pumper; Select Board seeks more information
Summary
The fire department proposed selling Engine 5 and buying a used apparatus to improve pumping and storage capacity. Board members raised concerns about size, maneuverability, and paint/repair costs; no purchase decision was made pending inspections and comparative quotes.
Fire department leaders presented a proposal April 1 to replace Engine 5, the town’s mini-pumper, arguing the vehicle is unreliable and limited in storage and pumping capacity. Department members described a mainland apparatus they had found and highlighted its pump capacity, storage and an on-board compressor for SCBA refill as advantages over the current truck.
Several board members and other firefighters raised concerns about whether the proposed rig would be maneuverable on narrow island roads and about optics given recent public-safety building expenditures. One firefighter recounted being first on scene at a recent fire and said Engine 5 failed to deliver water as expected; that account drove much of the urgency on the department’s side.
The department supplied a price and described an estimated $30,000 painting/corrosion remediation cost; staff reported a fire-reserve balance of about $239,613. The Select Board did not vote to buy the truck that night. Instead, members requested additional information: independent inspection or survey of the prospective apparatus, market comparisons for alternative mini-pumper replacements, and a cost estimate to repair the existing Engine 5. The department and staff will try to negotiate additional time with the seller while the Select Board gathers the requested data.
