Date: Fri 29-Jan-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Board-Fire-Commissioners

Full Text:

Fire Panel Says The Town Needs A New Aerial Truck

Newtown Hook & Ladder Company's aerial truck is now 23 years old and the time

has come to replace it. The cost - $800,000.

Members of the Board of Fire Commissioners were present at Monday's Board of

Selectmen budget meeting to discuss funding the purchase. The selectmen

recommended that the town cut out the purchase of a proposed new, smaller fire

truck this year and instead, put $300,000 aside in the 1999-2000 for a new

Hook & Ladder aerial truck. The balance of the truck would be paid for in the

2000-2001 budget when the truck would be delivered.

The selectmen agreed to wait until next year to determine how the money to pay

for the truck could be carried over from one budget year to the next.

Selectmen Joe Bojnowski suggested that the entire purchase be approved in this

budget and request to the Legislative Council that the cost be part of the

overall bonding package.

A year ago, the big red truck with its 100-foot-long telescoping ladder

returned to its home at the Hook & Ladder Fire Company after spending several

months in Elmira, N.Y. getting its ladder fixed. The cost for the repair was

$36,000.