1939-03-06 - Laserfiche WebLink

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218 c SELECTMEN'S MEETING MARCH 6, 1939. A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 8:00 P.M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Potter, Clark and Rowse were present. The Clerk was also present. The Committee on housing Fire Department equipment appeared before the Board. The Chairman told the group that Chief Taylor had been injured in an accident and would be unable to attend the conference tonight. He said that the Appropriation Committee had suggested that the Board confer with the Chief and the Committee on the matter of the new aerial ladder truck requested this year. Fire Dept, The Chairman explained that the ladder truck now ovmed by Truck the Fire Department was twenty-two years old and had broken down at a fire recently. The equipment -the Chief wants is modern and the ladder is shorter by six feet than the present one and the question of a high building is not involved. The ladder would be automatic and one man could drive the truck to a fire and operate the equipment. At the present - time, however, it does not mean that there will be fewer men needed, but the Chief believes that the purchase of the equipment would retard the adding of men to the force , for some ti*e. The Chairman said that the Appropriation Committee and the Selectmen had ap roved the -purchase of a truck and said that it would cost 16,315.00. He said that the Appropriation Committee wondered why it would not be feasible to purchase a cheaper piece of equipment. Chief Taylor said he would prefer not to have any rather than buy cheap equipment. Mr. Rowse said that as he understood it-, the Chief's argument was that it was almost impossible to raise a ladder with the present equipment. The Committee said that it really was not appointed to have anything to do with the purchase of fire department equipment, but was appointed merely to study the housing of the force and the equipment. The Chairman said that the Committee could think the matter over and said he would contact the Fire Engineers and request them to present the article on the purchase of the truck to the town meeting members thEmselves. The Committee retired at 8;15 P. M. Mr. Carroll, Town Clerk, appeared before the Board for the drawing of two jurors. Mr. Charles E. Ferguson, Jurorse builder, of 16 Highland Avenue was drawn to serve at the criminal session in Cambridge beginning April 3, 1939. D. Jack Allia, engineer, of 34 Eaton Road, was drawn to , serve at the civil session in Lowell beginning April 3rd, 1939.