Stoddard board authorizes emergency repairs, schedules inspections and seeks roofing quotes for fire station

The Stoddard selectboard on June 8 authorized repairs and inspections for fire department equipment and requested roofing quotes for the aging fire station.

Fire Chief Steve Rockwell reported that six Hamatra hydraulic rescue tools are scheduled for inspection, with a vendor quote of $2,200 for servicing the set; last year’s cost was about $3,500 when two hose failures required extra work. The board asked staff to obtain written confirmation of vendor costs and to compare inspection frequency and providers with neighboring departments.

A primer failure occurred on the town’s 36‑year‑old fire truck on June 7, 2026; Perkins Pumps is scheduled to inspect the vehicle June 10 and the board authorized repairs up to $5,000 (any additional cost requires approval from Town Administrator Michelle Pong). Minutes record the unit "blew up" in the primer failure; staff will confirm warranty status and search for the 2023 invoice.

The board also discussed building maintenance: the front roof is approximately 51 years old and the rear about 29 years, and the board requested site visits for roofing quotes (Guyer Sons and Rob Parker scheduled) with an eye to whether the Emergency Capital Reserve Fund or the Building Fund should pay for work—the latter requires a town vote and the board noted trustees may challenge using emergency funds for predictable aging replacements.

Other items included a minor electrical repair to the fire station well pump on June 6 that cost under $500 and a vendor invoice discrepancy for washer/dryer billing (vendor correction due June 9). The board did not vote to expend funds beyond the $5,000 authorization recorded in the minutes.