HOULTON, Maine — The Houlton Town Council unanimously approved the $60,200 purchase of 14 sets of firefighter turnout gear during the Monday night town council meeting.
Two weeks ago, Houlton Deputy Fire Chief Jim Brown told the town council that some of the firefighter gear is so old a hand could literally go through the pants.
“The last time the entire department received gear was in 2001,” Brown said. “The town needs to protect our first responders and give them the tools to be safe and efficient with our responses to an emergency.”
On Monday night, prior to the vote, Councilor Eileen McLaughlin asked if all 14 firefighters were at a fire at the same time and if there was a way to rotate gear among them to save some expense.
“It’s the town’s responsibility to provide the safety gear, and these 14 are the last that need to be provided for firefighters on the roster,” Town Manager Marian Anderson said. “You have already graciously provided it for everyone else, these are the remaining items.”
The money to purchase the turnout gear, including helmets, will come from the town’s American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The council also approved an additional $213,357 from rescue plan funds for the purchase of a new single-axle plow truck to replace a 2003 International single-axle plow truck for the public works department. Councilor McLaughlin cast the dissenting vote.
For several meetings, Public Works Director Chris Stewart presented the council with multiple new and used options to replace the plow truck. During Monday’s meeting, Stewart said that purchasing a used truck can become expensive with repairs and he did not recommend it.
“Considering the last new truck we purchased was in 1999, that’s 24 years. It goes to show you get many years of service from a new truck and I recommend that,” Stewart said.
McLaughlin listed several online sites and said the town should continue looking for a used vehicle.
But Councilor Sue Tortello disagreed.
“Chris, I think you have certainly done your due diligence on running down the different options for replacing this truck. I have full faith in your judgment of what you think is the best for your department and your needs,” Tortello said. “If you believe that purchasing the new unit is what we need to do, I strongly back you and I think we need to pass this.”
In other business, town councilors again discussed the proposed peace labyrinth for Riverside Park. Most of the councilors said they would approve the labyrinth if it was installed at a different location in the park.
But McLaughlin said that she would not approve it because of the many negative connotations related to labyrinths and stated their satanic history.
The councilors decided they would vote on the labyrinth and its location at the next meeting in April.
