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Torrington approves new HME pumper purchase with seven‑year lease; lease adds roughly $160,000
Summary
The Board of Public Safety approved buying an HME pumper for $776,042 plus about $50,000 in equipment under a seven‑year lease; staff said the lease interest raises total cost by roughly $160,000 and local vendor support influenced the recommendation.
The board approved the purchase of a new HME pumper from MES for $776,042, plus approximately $50,000 in additional equipment, and authorized the mayor to execute related contracts under a seven‑year lease. During discussion, a commissioner noted the lease would increase the city's cost by about $165,000; staff and finance members described the total cost over the lease as close to $1,000,000 including interest.
A department representative said the vendor's galvanized frame, additional safety features and a local service center weighed in favorably. "We've been doing a lot of shopping... The Waterbury fire department purchased two of these HME pumpers last year, and I had a chance to actually look at one of those trucks and talk to the crews that have been on them, and they absolutely love everything about the truck," the operations official said. The motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: The approved purchase modernizes frontline apparatus but commits the city to a multi‑year lease cost. Commissioners pressed for exact financing figures and were told the board of finance and city council reviewed and approved the plan.
