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Select Board weighs replacement schedule and potential warrant article after tanker need surfaces
Summary
Board reviewed fire apparatus replacement timelines and capital-reserve scenarios that showed a multi-hundred-thousand-dollar shortfall by the early 2030s; members discussed grant opportunities covering most costs for a tanker but noted the town must front funds until reimbursement.
The Dalton Select Board reviewed equipment-replacement timelines for fire apparatus and discussed how to fund near-term and longer-term vehicle needs through capital reserves, grants or a bond warrant article.
Chair presented a schedule showing Engine 1 (delivered 2009) and other apparatuses approaching end-of-life in the early 2030s, and said a tanker needs immediate replacement. The Chair said the town could pursue a grant that would cover roughly 95% of the tanker’s cost but emphasized the town must front the estimated $500,000 until grant reimbursement. "If we get the grant, we'd be looking at $25,000," the Chair said, describing the expected local share after reimbursement timing. The board discussed the need to plan for cash flow and potential temporary borrowing while awaiting grant funds.
Using a scenario that assumes current annual capital-reserve deposits, the Chair reported the town could face a $417,000 shortfall around 2033 when multiple replacement needs converge. Members asked technical questions about state replacement mandates, inflation adjustments for multi-year planning, and whether salvage value exists for old equipment; Ron (equipment lead) told the board older engines have little or no market value and may need to be destroyed.
Board members tasked staff to finalize estimates and noted that any larger financing plan (bond or loan) should be put to voters as a warrant article. The Chair said the timing and size of any warrant article would be a townspeople decision at town meeting once staff provide more precise cost estimates and replacement options.
Next steps: staff will continue to refine replacement cost estimates, confirm grant timelines and reimbursement mechanics, and prepare potential warrant-article language for a future meeting.
