The Woolwich select board told the fire chief they would need more time before deciding whether to include a town meeting article for a new utility/brush truck for the fire department.

Fire Chief Mike Demers said Monday evening he wanted to replace two older emergency vehicles with one new one at a cost of $97,000. The older trucks are a 2000 F350 brush truck and 2006 Ford F550 used as a utility truck.

Demers’ estimates the two trucks have a combined resale value of $22,500, monies he would put towards the purchase of a new Dodge Ram 5500 4x4 chassis. His told the select board his plan is to refurbish and remount the modular unit from the Ford F550 placing it on the new chassis.

Chairman David King Sr. said the $97,000 price tag was a non-starter for him. King noted the town had recently spent $9,000 for repairs on the utility truck. “I just don’t see the necessity of doing this,” he said.

Selectman Jason Shaw felt the purchase would have to be financed over several years. “I’ll need more information before deciding.” Selectman Dale Chadbourne said he too wanted to do more research on the fire chief’s proposal.

Demers said downsizing the town’s fleet of firetrucks would ultimately result in a cost savings. He advised against spending more money on repairs for the older utility truck.

King told Demers if a majority of the select board decided against including his request on the town meeting warrant he could circulate a petition to have an article added for the firetruck.

Demers proposed a 2021-2022 operational budget of $116,900; a decrease of $7,250 from last year.

EMS Director Brian Carlton’s proposed budget of $209,863 includes a $13,000 increase in the payroll line. Carlton said the increase will keep the ambulance department’s pay scale competitive with other area emergency services.

He noted a $5,000 increase in the medical supply line, which rose from $7,000 to $12,000 was mostly for the purchase of disposable gloves and oxygen. The price of medical gloves increased over 200 percent since the pandemic began, said Carlton.

Last year voters agreed to spend $206,292 for ambulance services. King noted the ambulance department was on track to bring in close to $100,000 in revenues.

The select board approved the Woolwich Historical Society’s warrant request for a $1,500 community donation; the same amount as last year. Because of the pandemic, the organization’s 19^th century farmhouse and museum remained closed last summer.

Debbie Locke, president of the historical society told the newspaper the pandemic forced the cancellation of several of the organization’s fundraising events including Woolwich Day when they hold a used book sale and sell baked goods. Also cancelled was the society’s annual September dinner at the Taste of Maine Restaurant when they hold a Silent Auction and present the Distinguished Service Award to a community member.

The Woolwich Historical Society is a membership-based organization that conducts oral history and Maine Memory Network projects in conjunction with the Maine Historical Society. They also serve as a resource for genealogical research, record keeping, and archiving.  They are based in a two-story 1810 farmhouse and barn located next door to the municipal building on Nequasset Road.