Town votes no for used fire truck, OKs highway truck

By Dick Lindsay
The Berkshire Eagle

TYRINGHAM, Mass. — Town Meeting has backed the purchase of a new highway truck, but put on hold buying a used fire truck.

The two capital expenses totaling $165,000 on Tuesday's annual town meeting warrant were the majority of the $202,000 increase in the town's budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

The budget hike was reduced to $116,000 when voters took no action on the $80,000 fire vehicle and tabled a $6,000 expenditure for the town's transfer station.

The remaining 22 articles passed, resulting in an overall spending plan for fiscal 2013 of $1.43 million, compared to the current budget of $1.31 million.

Town meeting voters sent the request for a used fire truck back to the Tyringham Fire Company urging fire officials to review their needs before they will consider a different vehicle, according to Board of Selectmen Chairman Alan Wilcox. Wilcox said the proposed combination tanker/pumper would have replaced two existing fire engines that are too big for the town's needs.

As for the new highway truck, the town will borrow the $85,000 needed to pay for the vehicle over a five-year period.

Meanwhile, voters during the special town meeting prior to the annual gathering approved using money Tyringham's stabilization fund and so-called "free cash" to cover the cost of road and other repairs due to heavy rain from Tropical Storm Irene last year. Town officials anticipate the $110,000 will be reimbursed by disaster relief funds.

The annual town election on Tuesday has all incumbents seeking re-election running unopposed. Voting will be from 12 to 6 p.m. at Town Hall.

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