New Rescue Truck Approved for East Haddam

At East Haddam's July Board of Selectman meeting, the Board of Selectman approved to award a bid to Spartan ERV for a new Rescue Truck for the town. The bid approved was in the amount of $209,237. 

Spartan was chosen over another bidder, Danko Emergency Equipment, even though the bid from Spartan came in at $11,000 higher. Representatives of East Haddam's Fire Department stated that Spartan had a better "reputation for quality" and they also provided a more extensive warranty for bumper to bumper, paint, and the chassis.

What is to become of the old rescue truck is still undecided. Representatives from the FD stated that full time employees at the department hope to keep the truck for use in a potential emergency. Others had a different opinion.

"I personally, would hate to see the old truck hang around," one FD member stated. "The old one is not being used. Our previous truck hung around and it ended up getting vandalized. I don't want to see the town get stuck with it."

The town is also offered the option of trading in the old truck to Spartan, which would give the town a $15,000 credit towards the new truck, knocking the bid down to approximately $194,000. 

The board stated the decision about the old truck would be made in the next month or two.