JAY – Selectmen set a special town meeting next month for voters to decide on an amendment to an ordinance and buying a new firetruck.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19, with a hearing at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5. Both meetings are at the Jay Middle School cafeteria.
Firefighters have been trying to buy a new truck for years to replace an aging Engine 3, but voters have rejected it twice in the last three years.
Each year voters raise money for a reserve fund, and each year the truck gets more expensive to buy.
Specifications for a pumper/rescue truck have gone to bid three times: Once by firefighters doing their own reviews; once last year when only one bid came in from Pierce for $374,042; and once by Jay Fire Rescue Chief Scott Shink who got a bid from Emergency One for $354,000.
If $300,000 of that amount were prepaid, the town would get savings of $9,000 reducing the cost to $345,000, Shink said. After applying the $312,000 in reserve that would leave a balance of $33,000 to be raised by voters in the 2006-07 budget, Shink said.
Shink told selectmen there is an anticipated increase in price of 3 percent Dec. 1 and there is also an anticipated price increase on engines caused by federal regulations that will go into effect in 2006.
“My thought right now is it would be a good time to buy,” Shink said. “I would like to recommend we enter into contract with E-One.”
Shink said there is a potential increase on cost of the truck of about $19,000.
Selectman Alan Labbe asked Town Manager Ruth Marden to see if the town would gain more interest than $9,000 if they invested the $300,000 for 200-plus days.
The truck takes 280 days to build after a contract is signed.
“We’ve put them off for so long and they’ve done everything we’ve asked them to; they’re so close,” Harlow said.
However, he said, he didn’t want to spend money the town doesn’t have.
Selectmen asked Shink to see if the company would be willing to give the town an extension until Dec. 20 to see if voters would approve transferring the remaining $33,000 from surplus.
And if that is approved, Shink’s budget amount to raise for surplus would be reduced by $33,000.
Shink said he’s watched the truck increase in price over the last three years $40,000 to $50,000 and he doesn’t want to see it increase another $10,000 plus.
Selectmen also asked Shink to see if they could get a better deal if they paid for the truck upfront, if voters approve.
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