Fire truck bill higher than expected
Repairs to Squad 6, one of Woolwich Fire Department’s fire trucks, came to $7,699. The amount was more than selectmen expected when Fire Chief Mike Demers presented the itemized bill July 5.
In April, Northeast Emergency Apparatus, LLC of Auburn carried out the work that involved repairs to the pump, a leaky tank and other work needed for the vehicle to pass inspection. The truck was purchased used several years ago from the town of Gray.
Demers told selectmen the bill would have been higher had he not questioned some of the charges. The amount was still more than what selectmen expected.
“We don’t have much choice other than to pay the bill,” Chairman David King Sr. said.
King added going forward the board would need to know in advance how much repairs of this nature would cost the town. The bill will be paid out of this year’s budget since the town’s fiscal year ended June 30.
The fire chief said the department had recently completed a joint training exercise with the Dresden Fire Department. The exercise focused on vehicle extrication and went well.
Demers said the Woolwich Fire Department had responded to six emergency calls since selectmen last met two weeks earlier. A lightning strike was thought to have caused one fire.
The department also has two new members, he said.
The fire chief added the crew had completed its spring cleaning of the firehouse.
Selectmen extended the provisional appointments of Chief Demers and EMS Director Julia Gillespie until the board’s July 18 meeting. The extension was to allow time for the town administrator to determine the term lengths — whether they were one-year or three-year appointments.
Gillespie said the town’s ambulance would shortly undergo its annual certification inspection. She noted some EMS equipment must be replaced every three years. The crew found a good deal of this was at or nearing the end of the cycle for replacement.
King asked Gillespie if she could look into breaking up the cycle to reduce having everything run out and need replacing at once.
Code Enforcement Officer Bruce Engert said he’d recently issued a building permit for a new home.
In a written report to selectmen, Jack Shaw, road commissioner, stated the culverts had been replaced on Old Stage Road.
Selectmen announced the hiring of Suzette Cloutier as tax collector, deputy town clerk, assessing assistant and E911 officer. Cloutier was formerly employed for the state in Child Support Enforcement. She is a former Communication Officer for Cumberland County and dispatcher for the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Department.
Paul Goscinski was reappointed to the Agriculture and Forestry Committee and Jason Libby to the Recreation Committee. Libby is principal of Woolwich Central School.
The town office reported an overrun of $42.96 in last year’s office operations account. The overdraft will be covered out of the contingency.
EcoMaine representatives will be at the firehouse on Saturday, July 16 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help promote recycling.
Selectmen will hold a public hearing on Monday, July 18 at 5 p.m. at the town office to determine whether a residential structure located at 19 Old Arrowsic Road is a dangerous building or nuisance, within the meaning of 17 Maine Revised Statutes 2851.
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