Members of the Barrington Town Council learned on Monday night that the fire department's ladder truck will need to be replaced earlier than expected. They also learned that replacing the truck will cost more than $1 million.

Shortly after the council approved the purchase of a new backhoe for the department of public works, Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha alerted the council members about the fire department's ladder truck. 

Mr. Cunha said that town officials had been surprised to learn that the current ladder truck would need to be replaced in about a year-and-a-half — its frame was deteriorating at a faster-than-expected rate. Officials had been expecting to get another three or four years out of the ladder truck, which had been purchased in the early 2000s. 

Mr. Cunha also warned council members about the cost of a new ladder truck — more than $1 million.

Barrington Town Council member Steve Primiano asked Mr. Cunha how the town planned to fund the future purchase. He specifically asked if the purchase would be bonded. 

Mr. Cunha said the town might redirect money from the rescue call reimbursements into the vehicle replacement account. He added that the town nets between $300,000 and $400,000 annually from the rescue calls.

Mr. Primiano said that if that money was re-directed out of the general fund and into vehicle replacement, the town would have to make up for it somehow. 

The Barrington Fire Department currently has a ladder truck with a 75-foot ladder. Officials said they would like to purchase a 100-foot ladder truck, which would make it easier for crews to access the roofs of taller buildings such as Atria Bay Spring Village. 

Council member Kate Weymouth said she recalled a controversy surrounding the purchase of the current ladder truck. Barrington Fire Chief Gerald Bessette said the controversy was over whether to purchase a ladder truck that had one rear axle or two. 

Backhoe purchase

At Monday night's meeting, the council approved the purchase of a new John Deere backhoe for the department of public works. The new backhoe — a John Deere 410 L Backhoe — will cost about $120,000, but officials will receive about $25,000 for their trade-in, which is a 2006 John Deere backhoe. 

Barrington Department of Public Works Director Alan Corvi said the DPW has had good luck with John Deere backhoes in the past. 

Barrington council members asked Mr. Corvi if it made better sense to keep the old backhoe and not trade it in. Mr. Corvi said he considered that, but questioned whether he could justify having both pieces of equipment, especially if they need to make repairs to the older backhoe. He said the repairs could become costly. Mr. Corvi also said the $25,000 offer for the trade-in was too good to pass up. 

The council then voted 3-0 in favor of the purchase.