NEW GLOUCESTER – Selectmen ordered an independent mechanical assessment of an ambulance with 170,000 miles offered at no cost to the town by United Ambulance Service.

The board is expected to make a final decision June 15.

The 1998 Ford E-450 would be the second first-responder vehicle and hold up to five people. It would be housed in the new fire station on Route 100.

United Ambulance would continue to transport sick or injured people to hospitals.

Fire Chief Gary Sacco said it would help the town determine in the next five years how to proceed with future fleet purchases.

The town’s only squad truck responds to all fires, car accidents and cold water rescue incidents before an ambulance arrives at scenes.

Selectmen Steve Libby said, “This is more than a minor addition to our fleet. My reading is it’s another first responder vehicle. I’m not comfortable with the vehicle yet and need to know if it’s a reasonable operating vehicle.”

The town also relies on a utility truck to go to hospitals to pick up equipment, bring back dirty hose from a fire scene and bring hose and equipment to training sites and fires.

In other business, the board agreed to approve a single transfer station sticker for residents to drop off household solid waste and bulky waste.