OXFORD — Selectmen authorized purchases for new and upgraded equipment for Oxford’s fire and police departments during their board meeting last Thursday.
Oxford selectmen approved most capital equipment requests submitted last week by Police Chief Rickie Jack (above) and Fire Chief Paul Hewey for safety, camera, radio gear and a Jaws of Life tool for vehicle accidents. Nicole Carter / Advertiser Democrat
Police Chief Rickie Jack presented capital requests for one cruiser and eight officer body cams at a cost of $37,700. He told selectmen that one of the town’s police cruiser’s does not have a dash cam, and that the body cams the department has are antiquated and parts and service is no longer available.
He also requested to buy a ballistic vest for $1,623 for a newly hired officer. The camera systems and safety vest were unanimously approved.
Fire & Rescue Chief Paul Hewey asked to purchase four sets of turnout gear and boots, five oxygen bottles, which run on a rolling yearly replacement schedule, and new EMS pumps to replace outdated ones that can no longer be calibrated to newer medications or dosage adjustments. His safety and EMS equipment was unanimously approved.
He also requested a capital request for new Jaws of Life equipment. The department currently has two that are old and still operable. The back-up is about 35 years old; the newer set is 25, but has not been inspected yet this year. Both are cumbersome to move, have limited hose length to operate, and are not completely effective cutting vehicles built with newer technology. Newer tools run on battery packs, making them easier and faster to transport. New Jaws of Life tools cost $42,115.
Hewey estimated that Oxford uses its Jaws of Life an average of five times a year, not just in town but for mutual aid situations as well. The request was approved by a three-to-two vote, with Selectman Floyd Thayer and Chairman Dana Dillingham opposing.
Both chiefs requested to have the public safety building’s phone system replaced. The current system randomly malfunctions, with volumes stuck and line lights not working. The buttons on some phones stick, and the help button at the entrance, which also runs through the system no longer works.
As Town Manager Adam Garland and selectmen discussed if a new system would be compatible with the systems used at other municipal sites, they decided to table the request until one comprehensive system and plan can be purchased for all town departments.
Selectmen approved purchasing three portable radio units for the police department at a cost $10,748 but reconsidered when they determined better pricing would likely be available by batching them into one purchase along with four radios for the fire department. Jack and Hewey said they would coordinate and bring a revised bid to the next meeting on August 3.
Selectmen agreed to table a bid to replace 12 of the public safety building’s 20 windows. Vice-Chairman Scott Hunter said protocol dictates that changes to town-owned buildings should be included on annual town meeting warrants and not handled as capital equipment projects.
“This doesn’t even cover half the windows,” Hunter said. “I think we should get a quote to replace all of them and put it to the townspeople to vote on next year.”
In other business, Garland said that Transfer Station Manager Ed Knightly had received contract bids for demolition removal from 207 Waste and Reynolds & Sons Disposal.
The current hauler, Almighty Waste will not provide contract pricing and their rates keep rising.
Waste removal company 207 Waste bid $245 to haul the 25-foot dumpster and $330 to move the 50-foot.
Reynolds & Sons bid $395 to move the smaller roll-off and did not bid on the larger one.
Selectmen unanimously agreed to go with 207 Waste, contingent on Garland completing reference calls to other customers.
Selectmen also tabled a bid for $78,000 to survey and replace a retaining wall that runs along Pismo Beach Road. Currently the road is 16 feet wide, barely enough to move large boats to the launch and not wide enough for emergency fire department vehicles.
Selectmen asked Garland to get a bid for survey work only; any retaining wall or road improvements need to be based on the survey and handled with a separate request for proposal.
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