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Fire chief requests $100,000 truck fund and $15,000 for tools amid rising repair costs
Summary
Chief Andy Dufresne told the committee the Fire Department faces rising repair and parts costs and requested $100,000 for the truck fund plus $15,000 for tool replacement while discussing apparatus replacement criteria and a height constraint at the current station.
Chief Andy Dufresne presented the Fire Department budget and explained several drivers of increased costs, including higher payroll for on-call firefighters, greater parts and repair expenses for an aging apparatus fleet, and changes to internet and cell-phone carrier costs.
Dufresne outlined capital needs and requested $100,000 for the truck fund and $15,000 for tool replacement. He described the factors used to evaluate replacement vehicles—pump capacity, tank size and vehicle height—and said the height limitation of the existing station could limit replacement options. The committee also discussed a prior correspondence with Saco Valley Fire Department about the chief’s stipend and a request to include a $4,000 stipend line rather than $6,000.
No final action on the Fire Department appropriation was taken at the meeting; committee members examined the capital plan and requested additional context on replacement timing and options.
