EAST LONGMEADOW – The Board of Selectmen met with several town departments to discuss potential future capital projects during its Nov. 5 meeting, including a $1 million replacement ladder truck and building improvements at Pine Knoll.

The selectmen met with department heads for preliminary conversations regarding projects and did not take a vote regarding prioritizing projects. Board of Selectmen Chair Paul Federici was unable to attend the meeting due to a previous commitment.

Fire Chief Paul Morrissette said the Fire Department is requesting a replacement for its 1988 ladder truck, which would be 29 years old as of the May 2016 Annual Town Meeting.

“The projected cost to replace the ladder truck in [fiscal year] 2017 (FY17) is $1,067,000,” he added. “The Fire Department is requesting the town purchase the new ladder truck with a lease to own option with a seven-year term. The Fire Department’s FY17 capital request is $169,077 for the first year’s payment of the lease to own option,” he stated in a letter to the selectmen.

“I will be submitting an application for FEMA’s 2015 Firefighter’s Assistance Grant program, which if approved would provide funding for up to 95 percent of the cost [for the] ladder truck replacement,” he continued.

Selectman William Gorman asked Morrissette why the town needs a replacement ladder truck when East Longmeadow could ask to utilize the services of Longmeadow’s new Quint fire truck. Prior to Longmeadow gaining its Quint fire truck, East Longmeadow’s ladder truck responded to incidents in the neighboring community.

 “It’s a fair thought,” Morrissette said. “The ladder truck has been part of our operation in town since before I was in the department … It responds probably 20 to 30 times a year to an actual fire every year. Our truck definitely does not see the use that’s why our truck’s an 1988 right now and still being used all the time.”

Last year, maintenance costs for the ladder truck were $81,000, he noted.

Morrissette said the department is also requesting to purchase 27 self-contained breathing apparatus in FY18 for $242,000 as part of its five-year capital plan, which also includes repaving the fire station’s parking lost for $144,000.”

“The fire station’s parking lot will be over 20 years old in FY19,” he added. “The parking lot is showing signs of extreme wear, which is getting worst yearly. The East Longmeadow Department of Public Works provided the budget cost for the parking lot replacement.”

Director of Recreation Colin Drury presented information regarding improvements to the Pine Knoll office space for $80,000 and the building’s shower heating system for $40,000. The project is in the Department of Public Works’ capital plan, but it was originally placed on the Recreation’s capital projects list.

“The building that was there was falling down the hill,” he explained. “The town – before my time – rebuilt the building. They went as far as the entire outside, [which is] done and the inside when you walk in is [unfinished]. The problem that we’re seeing now is you open the door and you can see all the interior walls starting to twist and move. There’s no environmental control within the building. It is going to freeze again this winter and it is going to thaw again this upcoming spring and summer. What that means is the water and moisture and humidity that we’re getting in the summer is now inside the wood and now it’s going to freeze and start twisting the wood.”

Basic electricity was installed in the building, but it still needs walls, heat, insulation in the walls, air conditioning, and plumbing, Drury said.

“It’s dangerous to be in there,” he added. “Right now, our camp director and our staff are in an equipment shed. We put a couple of desks in there.”

Gorman said this project is indicative of a problem the town has had in the past – not finishing projects, while starting new ones.

“We go buy these places and everybody’s gung ho to go get these with no plan on what’s going to happen,” he added. “What we do is we do everything halved and then it never gets completed.”

Police Chief Douglas Mellis presented projects from his department’s capital planning list, which included two police cruisers for $80,510, 26 Tasers for $52,000, and nine rifle suppression devices for $8,685.

Mellis said the rifle suppression devices could prevent potential hearing damage for officers using the weaponry.

“The alternative is hearing loss and possible disability retirement of the officers involved,” he added. “When viewed in this manner it would appear to be pennies on the dollar to afford this protection for the officers as well as other individuals present in a shooting scenario.”