The New Ipswich Select Board approved the purchase of a used command vehicle for the Fire Department, with the cost to come from the town’s capital reserves.
At its meeting Tuesday, the board voted to spend up to $61,000 from the vehicle capital reserve for a used 2022 GMC Suburban and $9,000 from the communications capital reserve for radios for the vehicle. Both passed in split votes.
Fire Chief Ben Hatcher told the board that the town would still have sufficient funds for its next scheduled engine replacement if the board approved the use for a command vehicle.
Hatcher recommended the Suburban, which he said had most of the equipment that the town would have to install in a new vehicle already, with the exception of radios, which need replacing. The cost of the vehicle was estimated at $60,000, and radios were estimated at $8,500.
“It is a steal of a vehicle,” Hatcher said.
Board members agreed on the need for a command vehicle but differed on how to approach it.
Selectman Jason Somero supported Hatcher’s proposal to purchase a used vehicle, comparing it to the $78,682 estimated cost of purchasing and outfitting a new vehicle.
Select Board Chair Shawn Talbot said he favored a newer model for reliability and warranty coverage, while Selectman Lou Alvarez preferred waiting a year to build up reserves and then purchasing a new vehicle with greater longevity.
Somero said he was not afraid to use the capital reserve now, and he didn’t see the benefit of building up large buffers.
“They’re a savings account, but they’re for a purpose, and when you have that purpose arise, you do it,” Somero said. He said he was also not put off by the idea of a used vehicle, saying that a new vehicle is not always indicative of reliability.
After discussion, the board approved Talbot’s motion to spend up to $61,000 for the Suburban on a 2-1 vote, with Alvarez opposed.
Talbot also moved to approve up to $9,000 from the communications capital reserve for the new vehicle, which was approved 2-0, with Alvarez abstaining.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.