Committee approves $798,075 for final payments on new fire pumper and tower

The Capital planning committee voted to approve $798,075 to cover the final payments on a new fire pumper and a tower ladder, allowing the department to accept delivery.

Fire department staff said the town negotiated prepayments that will save “over $51,000” now and estimated about $501,000 in interest savings over the financing period by paying ahead, and that the pumper is expected to arrive in November while the tower is likely to be delivered in March 2027. The chief told the committee that the payment will come from the ambulance capital account, not the general fund, and noted the department already holds several earlier payments in its capital account.

Committee members asked about trade-in value for the existing apparatus; the chief said rough market estimates are about $30,000 for the pumper and $55,000 for the ladder, and that the department will try national auction sites before finalizing any sale proceeds. The motion to appropriate the funds was made by a committee member and seconded; the committee voted in favor on a voice vote.