Ladder Truck Reserve Account

As you prepare to vote in our 2017 Municipal Elections, this video may help you better understand the importance of Article 9 regarding the establishment of a Public Safety Ladder Truck Reserve Account.

Article 9
Shall the Town establish a non-lapsing, Public Safety  Ladder Truck Reserve Account in the Capital Reserve Fund and transfer $500,000 from the General Fund Unassigned Fund balance to such new reserve account to help fund a new ladder truck for Public Safety, provided, that if this article passes, the Town Council shall appoint a citizens ad hoc committee to hold one or more public hearings this coming fall and winter to study whether the Public Safety needs of the Town require the replacement of the current ladder truck and to make its final recommendation on the issue in time to be included on next year’s annual Town meeting warrant when the remaining amount required will be before the voters, but only if this article passes this year?

Explanatory Note:  Public Safety’s current ladder truck is almost 25 years old and maintenance is becoming a substantial issue; however, a new ladder truck will cost approximately $1,000,000.  The purpose of this article is to start a two year funding process and to establish a citizen advisory committee to study the issue and report back to next year’s annual Town meeting with its recommendation.  If this article passes, the $500,000 requested here will be put into a reserve account in the Capital Reserve Fund for that sole purpose.  Then, next year, if the ad hoc committee recommends going forward, the voters will be asked for the remainder of the funds to be raised or transferred and the full amount to be appropriated for that purpose.  The replacement of the Ladder Truck is an essential municipal need to protect the “public health, safety and welfare” under Section 8 of Article V of the Town Charter.