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Assistant chief’s letter urges board to keep four‑wheel‑drive on new engine, citing access and insurance risks
Summary
A letter read into the record from Assistant Chief Nicholas Bain urged the board not to remove four‑wheel drive from the new fire engine specification, citing an estimated $50,000 retrofit cost, a projected 30‑year life for the engine, and concerns that two‑wheel drive would limit access during mud season and could risk an ISO downgrade.
At public comment a resident read a letter from Assistant Chief Nicholas Bain urging the board to retain four‑wheel‑drive capability on the new fire engine specification.
The letter stated the engine is expected to serve the community until 2056 and warned that removing the 4WD system to cut initial cost "represents significant reduction in our town's emergency response capabilities and a long term increase in liability." The assistant chief estimated the incremental cost of 4WD at about $50,000 and wrote that amortized over a 30‑year life the cost per year would be modest compared with the safety and access benefits.
The letter also tied four‑wheel‑drive capability to ensuring access to seasonal camps and private dirt roads during snow and mud seasons, and said losing guaranteed access could affect the town's Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating and homeowners' premiums. The board heard the concerns and indicated the matter will be considered as part of the ongoing apparatus procurement discussion.
