BY ANGELO LYNN
PROCTOR — The Proctor selectboard reviewed a proposal from the Proctor Fire Department to consider purchasing a new fire truck — in an amount ranging from $508,946 to $697,910 — as part of its budget preparation for the 2024 fiscal year. Proctor Fire Chief Josh Webb made a 15-minute presentation outlining the need for the new firetruck and its cost.
A committee within the fire department has spent the past eight months reviewing the need to replace two current trucks — a 2004 E One 1500/780 Rescue Pumper and a 1991 S&S Peterbilt 750/1800 tanker — with a single truck that serves both functions. After several weeks of review the department settled on a truck that should have a custom six-person cab, hold 1,800 gallons of water, have a 1,500-gallon-per-minute pump, and have water dumps on three sides.
The purchase of the new fire truck would come out of the fire department’s reserve fund. After performing a significant amount of research, and advertising for bids, the truck replacement committee narrowed the search to procuring a Custom E One for $697,910, or a Commercial E One for $508, 946. Since the money is in a fire department reserve fund that is dedicated for this purpose, the board will consider the request and make a decision at the next meeting.
The proposed purchase of a firetruck for the town was just one aspect of the town’s larger budget that is currently being planned and discussed by Ramsey, department heads and the selectboard ahead of a January 2023 deadline for Town Meeting.
Ramsey said that preliminary budget numbers see an inflationary increase of close to 8% but expressed confidence that there was flexibility in that initial budget forecast and in the selectboard’s ability to make wise choices when meeting the town’s needs while keeping spending in check.
In a memo to the board about the initial budget, Ramsey wrote: “The draft General Fund budget contains input from department heads, along with feedback that has been expressed by Proctor’s civic leaders over the past year. Among others, I have assumed 3% salary increases to try to keep up with cost-of-living expenses, a 6.5% salary match under VMERS plan B for all full-time employees, and a 50% increase to fuel/diesel costs (not excluding contractual fuel surcharge fees). There are also larger than expected increases to the Police and Curbside Pickup expenses due to a predication of flat costs from FY22 to FY23.”
“The 8% increase,” Ramsey continued, “in the total budget reflects a dedication to staff, and an adjustment to unforeseen inflation; however, given the large amount of time and effort put into making a well-coordinated, transparent, and legible draft for your review, I feel confident that there is flexibility for responsible change in the numbers. As a Town Manager who recognizes that an 8% annual increase is significant, I humbly place my faith and confidence in the wisdom of the board to make decisions that are in the best interest of the town’s future.”
PROJECT UPDATES
In other news, Ramsey reported:
• The Gorham Bridge Water Project was completed at the beginning of November at cost of approximately $70,000. This included the installation of 325-feet of mainline, four services, a flushing hydrant, and upgrading the plumbing inside of homes to be serviced from the rear to the front.
• The Town has had to replace two pump motors in two years. Each motor costs about $15,000. To discover the cause, contract engineers A+E, are tracking system data remotely to isolate the issue. The town does have a reliable backup pump that is used when the main pump is being serviced or has failed.
• The Beaver Pond Path project is approaching the right of way phase, where the town seeks agreements from landowners who are granting easements. Frank Beyette (Franklins) and Judy Taronovich (Proctor Gas) have expressed support, but also have concerns over the location of the trail. The board hopes to establish a clear path forward (no pun intended, Ramsey said) at the next meeting on November 28. Under the supervision of former Town Managers, and now Ramsey, the design has changed numerous times at the request of Mr. Beyette, which has resulted in delays and increased cost to the project.
• The South Street Sidewalk project is to be completed in 2024. The right of way phase starts in December.
• A review of the Willow Sewer Project was also discussed. The town was initially awarded $1.4 million in upgrades to over 1,200-feet of sanitary sewer inside the Willow Street Pump Station Sewershed, some of which was buried 100-feet in the ground under the railroad. The project was financed through the Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund to help mitigate illicit discharges from the Willow Street Pump Station. Total construction cost was $950,000. The engineers were A+E and the contractor was Zaluzney Excavating.
