Board Approves New Fire Truck in Old Saybrook, Connecticut

OLD SAYBROOK - A higher than expected cost for a new fire truck will require a restructuring of the Fire Department's capital budget for next year, First Selectman Michael Pace said.

Representatives from the department have already met with the Board of Finance regarding the anticipated restructuring which is expected to involve between $108,000 and $118,000.

Pace said the new fire truck will replace a 20-year-old vehicle which looks like a big box and is the first responder truck for Old Saybrook.

That status means that the truck is used for all fires and incidents and carries different types of safety equipment used in different situations.

Pace said the fire truck was one piece of a capital plan where money is set aside in anticipation of the purchase of equipment or vehicles.

According to Dec. 27 Board of Selectmen minutes, the town had saved approximately $500,000 to $550,000 for the new fire truck but the truck's cost exceeded $750,000.

At this point, fire department officials scaled down the truck and moved the deliverable date past July 1, 2008.

The scaled down proposal is still expected to handle the unique needs of Old Saybrook and was drawn up in a 111 page report based on recommendations by department personnel.

Department officials told the Board of Finance that if half of the cost for the truck is paid up front, a savings of $30,000 will be realized.

The department will receive approximately $35,500 in a trade-in value for the old truck.

Fire department personnel told selectmen that part of the reason the department needs a new truck is because the old truck was having mechanical problems.