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Select Board approves up to $17,146.35 for new unmarked CID vehicle
Summary
The Skowhegan Select Board approved spending up to $17,146.35 from the Capital Reserve Cruiser Replacement account to secure a 2025 Ford Explorer as an unmarked Criminal Investigation Division vehicle; the chief said the purchase was prompted by fleet maintenance pressures and a dealer discount.
The Skowhegan Select Board voted to expend up to $17,146.35 from the Capital Reserve Cruiser Replacement account (account 60-01-065-02) to secure a 2025 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor for the town's Criminal Investigation Division.
The chief, identified in the meeting as Chief Bucknam, told the board the vehicle will be a low-profile, unmarked SUV intended for surveillance and investigative work and that the town received a $10,000 discount that made the 2025 model attractive. "We received a heck of a deal from Sam Hite," the chief said, explaining the purchase decision.
Board members pressed the chief on fleet needs, rotation and maintenance costs. One member asked why an additional vehicle was needed when an administrative 2015 Ford Fusion remains available; the chief said the Fusion is an administrative vehicle used widely for training and errands and not dedicated to CID operations. He said some older vehicles have high mileage and maintenance costs: "Last year, my maintenance budget was over by $23,000," he said, citing rising parts and labor costs.
The board discussed lease terms and usage plans; the chief said the lease would be three years with an option to buy for $1 at the end. The motion to secure the 2025 vehicle was moved and seconded on the record and carried by the board.
The expenditure was described as part of the town's previously approved capital plan; a board member confirmed the purchase was included in the budget adopted at town meeting. The chief said the new vehicle will be upfitted for CID use and that one of the department's goals is to rotate older vehicles out of the fleet rather than run them until they no longer provide trade-in value.
The board did not record a detailed roll-call vote in the transcript for the vehicle item; the motion was approved during the meeting and will proceed to procurement and upfitting as described by the chief.
