JAY – Firefighters have sent out bid specifications to nine companies for a new, custom-made pumper-rescue truck that are due back Feb. 23. Selectmen learned Monday that one of the companies said it does not feel it can meet the specifications claiming they target a particular brand of truck.
Selectmen and Budget Committee members are recommending voters raise $200,000 in two separate warrant articles in April to allow the town to buy the truck that was estimated to cost $386,000 last year.
Voters have raised $50,000 a year for several years to buy the truck. The reserve account now at about $200,000.
Voters rejected buying the new truck in 2003 and 2004.
After the second rejection, selectmen hired a firm to conduct an equipment audit of the Fire Rescue Department.
An executive summary of the audit issued late last year recommended that the town buy a truck.
Town Manager Ruth Marden said Monday that a representative of E1, a firetruck manufacturer, called and said the specifications sent out are for a Pierce truck and the company cannot meet those specifications.
Fire Rescue Chief Brian Shink said another salesman of E1 submitted a bid a few years ago using similar specifications. That salesman is no longer in business.
Shink said the department sent out bid specifications they had used previously.
Otherwise, firefighters would have to sit down with each of the nine manufacturers to work out specifications to build the customized truck, he said.
If they had to do that, Assistant Chief Jim Shink said, it could take another two years before the town could buy a new truck.
To make it fair, selectmen decided to wait and see if the other eight companies send in bids by the deadline.
Selectman Rick Simoneau said he felt that E1 needed to be involved in the bidding process since the company is going to build a plant in Gray.
Chief Brian Shink and Marden agreed to call the E1 salesperson to determine the issues with the specifications.
“I don’t want to give the impression we’re favoring one manufacturer over another,” Selectman Barry McDonald said.
Residents will have a chance to attend an informational meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, at the Middle School on the proposed 2005-06 municipal $5.7 million spending package. The plan includes raising $100,000 in the Fire Rescue Department’s $252,772 budget and $100,000 in a separate article for the truck.
The School Committee is scheduled to vote on a proposed 2005-06, $10.5 million spending package to operate schools at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Middle School.
That budget will also be discussed during the Feb. 7 meeting.
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