Selectmen approve $1,435,570 contract for new rescue truck

The North Stonington Board of Selectmen on June 16 approved awarding a $1,435,570 contract to New England Fire and Equipment and Apparatus to build a new rescue truck for the volunteer fire company.

Chief Steinhard told the board the committee recommended the vendor because its bid was closest to the town’s specifications and, critically, offered a shorter build timeline. “The build time is under two years,” the chief said, noting the alternative bid had a build time approaching four years.

Town finance staff presented funding options and noted the town has an existing capital balance applied to the purchase and expects to recoup some costs by selling the retired rescue truck, estimating roughly $150,000 in resale proceeds. Staff described alternatives for lease terms, saying a six-year lease would reduce interest costs compared with a 10-year financing plan.

A motion to award the contract as presented by Chief Steinhard was seconded and approved by the selectmen. Chair Judy Maine said she would sign the award paperwork the following day to finalize the procurement.

Why it matters: Selectmen and town staff framed the purchase as necessary to maintain emergency response capacity and emphasized the shorter build time will put a modern vehicle into service sooner than the other bidder’s proposal.

Next steps: The chair will sign contract documents and the town will proceed with vendor coordination and financing arrangements.