November 6, 2009
 
DPW, fire to get additional vehicles
By JILLIAN JORGENSEN

GOFFSTOWN - At their Monday night meeting, the Goffstown Board of Selectmen voted to purchase two fire vehicles and four vehicles for the Department of Public Works through lease purchasing, pending a look at how the payments, spread over five years, will fit in the capital improvement plan.

If approved after the review, the town will spend $1 million to purchase two fire department vehicles, an engine and a tanker-pumper, over five years.  Fire Chief Richard O’Brien originally asked for the engine this year and the tanker next, but purchasing them together reduced the cost.  The estimated yearly payment, at a current interest rate of 4.65 percent will be $218,580.  There is more than $100,000 in a capital reserve fund for the department that could be applied to the first payment.

The board voted 4-1 in favor. Selectman Steve Fournier voted against the purchase after questioning O’Brien about the need for more trucks.

In a separate motion the board also voted to lease-purchase four vehicles for the Department of Public Works.  That would cost $981,700 over five years, and combines DPW director Carl Quiram's anticipated major purchasing needs for 2010 and 2011.  With the current interest rate the yearly payment would be $222,312.  

That motion also passed 4-1, with Fournier voting against.