Lyndeborough Town Meeting voters approved all 16 warrant articles, including the operating budget of $2,165,071 and an additional $216,500 from all passed articles, given to the town fire, highway and police departments.
Several articles discussed at the meeting concerned the town’s fire department, which asked for equipment such as new radios, a vehicle exhaust system, and a washing machine extractor for gear.
“We don’t have a system to wash our fire gear,” said Lyndeborough Fire Chief Brian Smith. “When I was younger, the dirtier you were… It was like a badge of honor. Now we know these are Cancer-causing chemicals.”
Also requested was the purchase of a new tanker truck to replace the 1984 Tanker Truck currently in use.
“It doesn’t just affect us, it affects communities around us,” said Olivia Binstead, a local volunteer firefighter.
Binstead, who also teaches at Souhegan High School in Amherst, said recently a student of her’s was affected by a fire, and that the new tanker would give “an opportunity to help and support other communities.”
On the warrant were requested provisions from the Highway Department, proposing articles requesting a new dump truck and backhoe, able to clear and sand roads throughout the year.
Selectman Fred Douglas said the roads were “terrible” over the past year. Passing the articles would greatly benefit all town residents, he said.
The town police department requested the raising and appropriation of $30,000 being added to the $23,000 raised last year in order to purchase a new police vehicle.