RUMFORD — Rumford and Mexico selectmen unanimously approved a contract Thursday night to jointly purchase a ladder firetruck.
Afterward, Rumford selectmen unanimously approved buying the 2008 Pierce Aerial truck from Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus Inc. of Union Grove, Ala., for $498,800. The Alabama dealer, in return, accepted the trade-in of Rumford’s 1990 E-One Aerial for $20,000 and Mexico’s 1995 pumper tanker for $40,000.
Rumford is paying 80 percent of the cost of the truck; Mexico 20 percent.
With Mexico Selectmen Reggie Arsenault, George Byam, Peter Merrill and Byron Ouellette and Town Manager John Madigan seated across from him in Rumford Falls Auditorium, Rumford board Chairman Greg Buccina asked for a motion on the contract. Selectman Brad Adley motioned to approve and Adley seconded it.
Adley asked Rumford fire Chief Bob Chase about maintenance funding for the firetruck.
Chase said the contract states that all participating towns will contribute annually to its continued maintenance and eventual replacement. He said the contributions for maintenance and capital reserve accounts will be based initially on $35,000 per year total contribution, with each town’s portion defined by an included funding model.
Adley asked if the ladder truck will be lettered Mexico/Rumford Fire or Rumford/Mexico Fire.
“We haven’t worked out all the details yet,” Chase said referring to himself and Mexico fire Chief Gary Wentzell.
Mexico Selectman Reggie Arsenault thanked the fire chiefs for their efforts to put the project together.
“This board and your board, the two chiefs and two town managers, the spirit of cooperation, you know, it does show it can be done,” Lovejoy said. “It can be improved. We can work together. I hope this spirit of cooperation continues and we see more joint ventures. You know, it’s your survival and it’s our survival.”
Chase said the contract has language in it and a funding formula that allows other River Valley towns to join the agreement for ladder truck coverage.
Following the 5-0 vote by Rumford selectmen to approve the contract, Mexico selectmen convened and voted 4-0 to OK it.
Rumford Town Manager Carlo Puiia said, “It just shows how quickly we can put an agreement together when it’s really needed.”
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- Mexico Selectman George Byam, foreground, signs a joint purchase agreement to buy a ladder firetruck with Rumford at a Rumford selectmen’s meeting Thursday.
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- Mexico Town Manager John Madigan, left, examines a joint purchase agreement between the towns of Mexico and Rumford to buy and maintain a ladder firetruck, at a Rumford selectmen’s meeting Thursday.
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