MINOT — Fire Chief Jim Allen recommended to selectmen Monday night that the Engine 8 pumper be replaced because it needs an estimated $17,360 in repairs and is more than 20 years old.

He said the 1,250-gallon-per-minute pump on the 1996 Navistar broke during a routine test recently.

Allen said used apparatuses in similar condition, age and mileage are available for $16,500 to $30,000.

His recommendation to the board: “Do not repair Engine 8.”

Allen said there is a 2017 demonstration pumper from New York that matches Engine 8 in detail and performance, has 138 miles on it and costs approximately $320,000.

Board Chairman Steve French, who is a deputy fire chief for the town, said the situation is not an emergency, so it will be brought to the annual town meeting in 2019. He said since there is no capital funding available, the town would have to look into a five-year bond.

Allen also told selectmen he is working with Town Administrator Danielle Loring on acquiring Federal Emergency Management Agency grants to buy security devices for town buildings and equipment. Among them are high-resolution cameras for the Central and Orchard Fire Stations and a new photo identification system to control building access.

“Not that we have an issue,” he said, “but knowing who is coming and going in and out … we have had some issues in the past.”

Alllen said he talked with Loring about all town employees having an identification card.

He said he would like to change the access code system to the fire stations to individual personal key codes for employees and swipe cards for contractors,  instead of everyone having the same access code.

The printer that makes the ID cards is more than 25 years old, he said.

Also Monday, selectmen said they will schedule a public hearing in the fall on restructuring the language in the ordinances governing impact fees and building permit fees.

Minot collects impact fees on new building construction but can only use the money on expansion of services that are impacted by that growth.

The Impact Fee Committee is recommending removing references to Minot Consolidated School because Regional School Unit 16 oversees school costs and cleaning up the language regarding the process and use of the fees.

Town officials would prefer putting all building permit fees into a reserve account instead of the general fund and use them for capital improvements. The language changes would not limit how the funds could be used.

Building permit fees are collected on every building application while impact fees are only for new construction.

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