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Orford Selectboard approves Jaws-of-Life purchase, weighs rescue-truck bids
Summary
Fire Chief Sanborn reported recent department activity and presented two rescue-truck bids; the board approved a $26,450 withdrawal from the Fire Department Equipment CRF to buy Jaws-of-Life tools in a 2–1 vote (Smith opposed). Sanborn will bring a revised rescue-truck contract to a future meeting.
Fire Chief Sanborn told the Orford Selectboard on July 9 that the department responded to 13 calls in June — nine medical calls, two incidents involving trees or wires down, one report of a propane odor and one mutual‑aid response — and that hose and ladder testing produced no issues. He reported one new member (firefighter level 2 and EMT), two members completed prerequisite water-safety training and the department ran a joint water-supply drill with Fairlee and Lyme.
Sanborn said the skid ordered under the warrant article for the rescue truck is due to arrive in early October 2025. He presented two bids for the full rescue truck: a CET bid for $175,135 from a Canadian vendor that would be subject to an estimated 25% tariff (bringing the likely total to about $218,919 with an 18‑month delivery), and a $228,000 bid from Alterra Light Rescue with a seven‑month delivery. Sanborn said modest specification changes — for example, deferring lettering costs to the department operating budget — could bring the Alterra price below the $222,000 remaining in the rescue-truck warrant-article balance; he said he would work with Alterra’s sales representative on contract modifications and return a contract for board review at a future meeting.
Sanborn said he applied for two separate grants (about $25,000 each) to help buy hydraulic rescue tools (Jaws of Life) but judged the chance of award to be “pretty low.” He asked the Selectboard to authorize $26,450 from the Fire Department Equipment Capital Reserve Fund (CRF) to cover the remaining purchase cost (total equipment price $41,450 minus $15,000 previously approved from Grafton County ARPA). Selectboard member Charles Smith said he was not in favor of using CRF funds without confirmed grant awards because replenishing the CRF would likely require higher taxes. The board voted 2–1 to approve the CRF draw, with Smith casting the dissenting vote.
No final purchase contract for the rescue truck was signed at the meeting; Sanborn will present a revised contract reflecting the agreed specification changes at a subsequent Selectboard meeting for review and signature.
The board’s formal actions from this agenda section include a 2–1 vote approving the $26,450 CRF withdrawal for Jaws-of-Life and direction for Chief Sanborn to pursue a revised Alterra bid that fits the warrant-article balance.
