Lakeville fire and EMS outline ambulance, truck and monitor plans amid long lead times

Fire Chief O'Brien briefed the Capital Expenditures Committee on the department's equipment strategy, saying inflation on emergency apparatus has pushed prices and lead times well beyond past experience. "Our newest ambulance that was put in service this past spring, it already has 40,000 miles on it," he said, noting delivery lead times of up to two years and an example ARPA‑funded ambulance that cost about $570,000.

The chief recommended timing purchases to match delivery windows and explored options for procuring an ambulance with minimal obligation through a state‑contract vendor. Members debated financing approaches: one finance member warned that long leases can generate large interest costs (illustrated by a 10‑year lease that increased a $1.4 million truck to $1.746 million total), and several members favored incremental stabilizations or group borrowing to smooth budget impacts.

On EMS gear, O'Brien said the town was "owed" a cardiac monitor that was misdelivered and that vendors are now offering a trade‑in deal to provide three next‑generation monitors for a net cost of roughly $100,000, inclusive of the $50,000 already allocated. "It would be a good opportunity," he said, adding the upgrade could improve clinical capability across the ambulance fleet.

Chief O'Brien also urged the committee to allow flexibility for grant opportunities on a proposed $900,000 engine/truck replacement, saying he would like another year to pursue FEMA and other grant sources before committing capital. The committee agreed to consider staging and reserve strategies to reduce reliance on leases.