WILTON – About a year after finding out one of the town’s two pump trucks needed serious work or replacement, selectmen voted last week to put up to $25,000 into repairs and to start the process of buying a new fire engine.
Selectmen voted to form a firetruck advisory committee this November to study replacing Engine 5, which failed its pump test last year. According to Town Manager Peter Nielsen, Wilton now has one serviceable engine but is required to respond to fires with two trucks before firefighters can begin fighting a blaze.
Nielsen said the committee reported its findings last week and made three recommendations to the selectmen. First, he said, they suggested taking up to $25,000 from Wilton’s emergency fund for repairs to bring Engine 5 up to inspection standards as “sort of a Band-Aid.”
Committee members also advised selectmen to begin the process of purchasing a new pump truck for approximately $250,000. Their final recommendation advocated that selectmen ask the town Finance Committee to study whether Wilton should purchase a new truck with money from the town’s savings account, take out a loan, or “do both,” Nielsen explained.
Selectmen voted last week to accept all three recommendations.
Selectmen also came to an agreement with the Teamsters Union at last week’s meeting, concluding negotiations for four town police officers that have been going on since March. Among other things, the contract provides for a 2 percent pay increase annually for the next three years, and requires town police to begin foot patrols in town, promoting “community relations and physical fitness,” Nielsen said.
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