WILTON – The future of the town’s firefighting capability will be decided Tuesday, Nov. 18, with a special town meeting asking residents if they want to borrow up to $500,000 to purchase a fire truck.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Academy Hill School cafeteria on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Upon selecting a moderator and dispensing with the single action article, the selectboard will hold its regular business meeting.
The new fire truck would have aerial capability, something the town has lacked since August 2013, when the Wilton Fire Department’s 1973 Snorkel truck failed to pass inspection and was eventually scrapped. WFD maintains three other fire engines, plus a squad truck: a pumper designated Engine 7, a rescue pumper named Engine 1 and Tanker 1, which carries water. An issue with the current fleet is that Wilton has buildings that are taller than the maximum range of WFD’s ladders. Main Street has a number of structures that are three- or three-and-a-half stories tall and the owner of the Bass Building near Wilson Lake was planning on installing apartments into a fourth floor.
A committee of town officials, selectmen and residents developed three options, two of which would involve buying a new or used aerial truck, possibly a quint. Quints, short for quintuple combination pumper, are also known as 5-in-1 trucks because they combine a pump, water storage tank, fire hose, aerial device, and ground ladders. The third option would be to contract with either Farmington or Jay for aerial coverage, as both towns have that capability. Due to the distances and territory involved, committee members have told the selectboard that Wilton would likely need to contract with both towns to provide timely service.
A quint would likely replace Engine 7. The resale value of that vehicle has been estimated at $30,000 to $35,000. That would leave the department with three firefighting engines, plus the squad truck.
A used aerial truck is expected to cost $500,000 or less, with those funds to be borrowed through a 10-year bond. According to a financial statement that will accompany Tuesday’s special town meeting warrant, the total cost of the truck plus interest would not exceed $580,000 over 10 years, given an estimated maximum interest rate of 3.4 percent.
Data provided by town officials at previous meetings indicate that the largest portion of the bond, $300,000 to $350,000, would likely be paid out of the Comfort Inn Tax Increment Financing District at an amount of $30,000 to $35,000 per year. The remaining $150,000 to $200,000 cost could be raised through the budget process over 10 years.
The town will be losing an existing, annual debt payment next year, when Wilton’s obligation to pay $22,000 annually for the East Dixfield fire truck ends in November 2015.
Lots to consider. Lots to discuss. An important vote.
Wow I read about fire departments getting together to find was to share and save money. There have been two such meetings here and now Wilton wants to buy a ladder truck. I have heard from many fire fighters that many towns don’t have personnel during the day to respond to calls. Farmington our neighboring town has staff on duty and a ladder truck. I just can not see the sense behind this decision. Why don’t our fire leaders join with the rest of the county and find ways to work together instead of buying the newest and biggest toys. We are surrounded by ladder truck, one in Jay and one in Farmington, as a tax payer I would hope that common sense will prevail.
Consider what would happen if a fire broke out in that huge abandoned building on Depot St., and there was even a fifteen minute delay in response time.
If you have an opinion,make the effort to attend,be heard and vote on this proposal. (If the Forster building goes up,let it burn!)
Not Needed. A lot of money just for the newest toy. “The otherside” well said!!
This summer Wilton’s volunteer fire department did a controlled burn of a Main St property and I saw first-hand how capable, well-trained and professional our local volunteer fire department is. Not only do these folks give a lot of their time and energy to the community, but they also happen to pay taxes. Consider whose opinion you want to rely on: the people volunteering to protect the community OR the people who take a default “no spending” position on everything.
If we financed all the “what if” scenarios in any of the departments, the town wouldn’t hold a charter anymore.
We have been supporting the purchase of a fire truck in East Dixfield for enough years to help pay it off, so obviously we work with other towns to share resources. The article mentions the purchase of a Quint may also replace a second aging truck, Engine # 7. Replacing two sole purpose trucks with one that can meet several needs makes sense if we can afford it. Would it be possible to forecast out the departments major equipment needs based on age of the existing equipment for the next 10 years? Just the really big items, like the trucks?
Hate these “special” town meetings where they know that not many people will be out to vote. Any major purchase should be made at the annual town meeting where we at least have a larger representation of the Wilton taxpayers.
” The town will be losing an existing, annual debt payment next year, when Wilton’s obligation to pay $22,000 annually for the East Dixfield fire truck ends in November 2015.
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Does this mean the $$$$ are burning a hole in someones pocket? What time is this meeting on Tuesday? The blood letting has to stop somewhere. Most of us will be taxed out of town if every item or ” toy ” gets through. I have to live inside my budget, how about the town.
Isn’t E.Dixfield part of Wilton? Taxpayers, get ready for a shiny new parade truck! Craig is right, very easy to stack the deck at a ‘special’ town meeting. Seems like we had a good opportunity to vote for a bunch of things just the other day….
Wilton voters have the right to be there…..