NORWAY — Representatives of the Fire and Highway departments told the Budget Committee and selectmen Tuesday that high repair costs necessitate replacing three major pieces of equipment.

“It’s not only to be more efficient today, but for cost savings in the future,” firefighter Tim Yates said of the need to replace the department’s 1967 pumper and 1962 forestry units — both of which have been in and out of service with mechanical problems numerous times.

Highway Department Foreman Jim Tibbetts said the road grader the department wants to replace has had $88,000 in repairs over the years and more major work, such as on the transmission, will probably be needed in the future.

Budget Committee members and selectmen spent nearly two hours in the first night of deliberations on the proposed $2.7 million budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. They will meet with each department over the next month to hear requests.

Yates, who helped Ffre Chief Dennis Yates present the budget, said he received prices for a four-wheel drive firetruck that went as high as $322,000, but he has an eye on a $309,000 four-wheel drive pumper that will serve the town better on camp roads and in winter and mud-season conditions.

The old engine would be traded in but the forestry truck would be returned to the person who donated it to the department.

Rumford is the closest town with a four-wheel drive engine and with 1,700 homes outside the hydrant system and many dirt roads, it is essential that a four-wheel truck be purchased, if financially feasible, he said.

“They have 93 combined years of usage. They’re getting old. It’s time to replace them,” Yates said. The units don’t meet national fire protection standards.

Tibbetts said he has priced new graders as high as $403,000 but has found a John Deere all-wheel drive for $224,000.

The new grader would be paid for with $120,000 from the equipment reserve fund and borrowing $105,000.

The cost of the firetruck would be paid with $125,000 from the firetruck reserve and borrowing $179,000.

Town Manager David Holt said both items would be bonded over a 10-year period.

The Budget Committee and selectmen will continue their deliberations with other town departments over the coming month.

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