Boothbay selectmen dipped into the municipal capital improvement account Nov. 8 to purchase new fire and public works equipment. The board authorized purchasing a Kohler 20RES generator for $8,205 from Sam’s Electric in Boothbay and two MSA TIC Evolution 6000 Plus thermal imaging cameras for up to $12,680 from Northeast Emergency Apparatus in Auburn.

The generator comes with a Kohler 100AMP automatic transfer switch, concrete pad, conduit and wiring connecting to the existing panel, circuit breaker, state electrical permit, labor, a two-year labor warranty and a five-year parts warranty.

The recent windstorm which knocked power out locally for almost week resulted in the board considering purchasing a generator. Neither the public works garage nor the nearby fuel depot has a backup power source. Selectmen realized a generator would aid municipal officials in delivering services during an emergency.

“Just imagine being without power and putting a new wiper on a truck in the pitch black. I think the storm proved that we need this,” said Selectman Steve Lewis.

Selectmen are using municipal capital improvement funds for the purchase are also considering imposing a small surcharge on fuel purchases. A surcharge would pay for the generator, and in the future, possibly a canopy. The fuel depot is used by Boothbay and Edgecomb, the regional ambulance service, water and refuse districts, and local fire departments. Selectmen indicated local users paid a surcharge in past years.

Selectmen also authorized purchasing two new thermal imaging cameras based on Fire Chief Dick Spofford’s recommendation. Three decades ago, Boothbay was one of the first Lincoln County towns to purchase a thermal imaging camera. The model was state of the art and cost nearly $25,000. Boothbay is now purchasing two new ones for about half the amount.

“Well, if you got 30 years out of the original piece of equipment, and you’re just coming back now asking for a replacement, then I guess that’s alright,” Selectman Dale Harmon said.

The two new cameras are NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 1801-compliant with a five-year warranty included, along with six color palettes, ranger finder, laser pointer, integrated compass, 2X/4x zoom lens and a vehicle charger kit. Spofford requested two cameras, one for each station.

Thermal imaging cameras are used both indoors and outdoors. Firefighters use them in detecting fire hot spots, bodies lying down, and fire location.  Selectmen will fund the purchase by using $6,700 received from the sale of a tanker, $2,500 from the fire department’s proceeds from the firefighters’ convention, and $3,800 from the capital improvement account.

In other action, selectmen unanimously approved a permit for Dover’s Used Car Parts/Junkyard located on 76 Dover Road. Selectmen tabled the request two weeks ago after a resident complained about the property’s appearance. In approving the permit, selectmen ruled the junkyard’s appearance hadn’t changed much in recent years.

The junkyard is owned by Philip J. and Annette Main. It began operation in its current location in 1968.

“That’s the way it’s been forever. My feeling is that it’s not creating any problems,” Lewis said.

Selectmen also appointed an advisory committee to advise them about landscaping around the roundabout and parking near the common. The board appointed residents Abbe Levin, Tom Nickerson, Kathleen Marty, Susan Whitehouse, Eliza Jones and Lauren Bradley. 

Selectmen’s next meeting is 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23 in the municipal conference room.