New London board welcomes full‑time fire chief and reviews smaller ladder truck to avoid station expansion

The New London Select Board on Monday heard from the Board of Firewards that Mike Matthew has been appointed the town’s full‑time fire chief effective the same day. Steve Ensign, chair of the Board of Firewards, introduced Matthew and said the department expects a smooth transition.

Chief Matthew described a compact ladder truck the department inspected in Canada and demonstrated at a manufacture facility. “It’s definitely a very viable piece of equipment, especially for the town of New London moving forward,” he said, describing a four‑wheel‑drive, off‑road capable vehicle with a 70‑foot ladder that is roughly 10 feet shorter than the current apparatus and could fit inside the existing station footprint.

The department told the board the vehicle’s electric‑stabilization and remote controls allow it to rotate 360 degrees and to be positioned on grass or driveways — something the current heavy ladder cannot do in softer conditions. Chief Matthew said the tradeoff is the compact truck has no onboard water tank; the department plans to respond initially with Engine 1, which carries roughly 1,500 gallons.

Officials provided rough cost context: the specialized truck is priced at under $1 million in current estimates and the manufacturer asks for a 20% deposit. The current ladder truck’s appraisal was cited at about $650,000–$700,000; the town’s representatives projected that buying the smaller unit now and selling the older apparatus could materially reduce the combined costs of equipment and avoiding a station expansion. The current ladder replacement is scheduled for 2032, and the company estimated about two years from deposit to delivery.

The board also heard personnel updates: the full‑time shift‑captain position approved at town meeting has been offered and accepted by Andrew Sarnovich, who is expected to start July 10. The fire leadership said they submitted a SAFER grant application for personnel to FEMA with a June 22 closing date and that they expect a decision in September or October.

The Select Board asked questions about service, maintenance and tariffs; Chief Matthew said the vehicle uses a Ford chassis for routine service locally and that the manufacturer will provide technician support, given the company is approximately four and a half hours away.

The board did not take further action on procurement at the meeting; Chief Matthew said staff would bring the vehicle to New London for a hands‑on fit test before proceeding if the board authorizes a purchase.

The Select Board’s next meeting is scheduled June 30, when capital and budget items are expected to be reviewed further.