The Lyndeborough Fire Department is asking for several new pieces of equipment this year, including a new vehicle, equipment to reduce their exposure to fire contaminants, and new radios.
This year, Lyndeborough plans to present a budget of $2,154,125, a budget with little change from last year’s approved budget, with only a $14,000 increase.
“It’s pretty much flat,” Town Administrator Russ Boland said Wednesday.
This year, the town intends to fill a vacant full-time position on the Highway Department, as well as adding additional part-time workers. A vacant full-time police officer position will be covered by additional part-time hires.
In other warrant articles requested this year, the town is looking to purchase several pieces of equipment for the fire department, including a new pumper to replace the 1984 truck the town currently uses.
“It’s 36 years old, and it’s come to the end of its life for the fire department,” Boland said.
The vehicle is expected to cost $280,000 to replace, and the entirety of the cost would come from the town’s capital reserve for that purpose.
The town is also asking for two pieces of equipment designed to reduce the firefighter’s exposure to chemicals after they have fought a fire. The first is a vehicle ventilation exhaust system for the fire department, which would cost $21,000. The other is a washing machine extractor system, which is a washing machine that is larger than a residential machine and is able to remove chemical remnants without damaging the firefighter’s gear. The machine is expected to cost $5,000. Both pieces of equipment would be paid for by funds already raised and in the fire department equipment capital reserve.
The fire department is also asking to purchase new radios, but would only purchase the radios if it received a Assistance to Firefighters grant, which covers up to 95 percent of the cost of equipment. The total cost of the radios would be $53,000, meaning Lyndeborough’s share would be $2,650.
The town hopes to purchase two other vehicles this year, with the majority of the funds coming from the town’s capital reserves.
The first is a new dump truck for the Highway Department. The total cost of the vehicle is $170,000, with $140,000 coming from the town’s capital reserve funds already raised for that purpose. The old 2008 Volvo truck will be sold and its value will contribute to the remaining $30,000 cost of purchasing the new vehicle.
The town is also asking to purchase a new police cruiser. The town has two cruisers, which are replaced on a four-year cycle. The cost of the cruiser is $53,000. The town already agreed to raise $23,000 for the purchase of the cruiser in 2019 in a non-lapsing article, and the other half of the funds, $30,000, is being requested this year.
The majority of the articles on the warrant are requests for capital reserve funds. The amounts requested are in line with the town’s capital improvement plan to purchase new vehicles and equipment as they reach the end of their lifespan.
The town is also asking to create a new capital reserve this year, to provide for the maintenance of town buildings. In addition to creating the capital reserve, the town is requesting $10,000 to start the fund.
According to Boland, the town does not have a specific project it is saving for, and the funds are meant to be used for unforeseen repair needs. For example, this year, the town’s Citizen’s Hall heating system failed, and needed emergency repairs, which were paid for by the town’s general fund. A seperate capital reserve specifically for the purpose of maintaining the buildings helps track spending and provides for emergency circumstances, Boland said.
The town’s budget hearing will be held on Feb. 4 at Citizen’s Hall at 7 p.m. The snow date for the hearing is Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. in Citizen’s Hall. The warrant and budget are subject to change until that point.
Voting for town officers, zoning amendments, and any warrant articles required by law will be March 10 at Citizen’s Hall between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. All other warrant articles will be discussed, amended and voted on during Town Meeting on Feb. 14 at Citizen’s Hall, starting at 10 a.m.