Boothbay town officials are looking to put their capital improvement plan to use for the upcoming fiscal year. At the Boothbay selectmen’s meeting on February 12, the town officials expressed interest in purchasing a plow truck, a firetruck and new turnout gear.

There is currently $200,000 in the capital improvement fund, and the town of Boothbay will be asking voters in May for permission to appropriate an additional $140,000 for equipment replacement and other short term projects.

“We're kind of proud of the capital improvement plan,” Town Manager Jim Chaousis said. “We're not asking the voters to raise any more money than they've ever raised. We had money saved for this.”

The money earmarked for the public works department will be used to replace the old GMC 5500 that “has not been holding up,” according to Public Works Foreman Mike Alley.

This winter the public works department has had its hands full, not just plowing and sanding, but repairing broken down trucks.

Although broken equipment has presented some minor setbacks for the department, Selectmen’s Chairman Steve Lewis commended Alley's crew. “I think the roads have been the best they've ever been, in my opinion,” Lewis said.

The approximate cost for a fully equipped truck chassis, a plow and additional components is about $150,000, but Chaousis said the actual cost would probably be much less.

“That's the good thing about the capital improvement plan is that we kind of write (the cost) in, and as we get closer we kind of firm up the expenditure,” Chaousis said.

The town is also planning to set aside $30,000 for the Boothbay Fire Department. The fire department is looking to replace turnout gear, equip both fire stations with exhaust systems, and purchase a used tanker truck.

Boothbay Firefighter Tim Pinkham said he is currently pursuing a FEMA grant worth about $137,000. Pinkham said if he is successful in securing the grant, the bulk of the costs would be covered, and the town would only need to chip in 5 percent matching funds.

The fire department is requesting 10 sets of turnout gear for the next fiscal year, but if the grant money comes through, the town could buy a truck, replace 24 sets of turnout gear and the stations be fully “up to snuff” in regulation standards, Pinkham said.

Boothbay Fire Chief Dick Spofford said the cost to outfit one firefighter in turnout gear is a minimum cost of $2,000 per uniform.

“We've been very fortunate to have a good force show up all the time. “We've got some new members, and it takes gear. You got to have everybody outfitted,” Spofford said.

The selectmen were receptive to the fire department’s requests.

“There is no fire department around, even close by, that's as huge and has such a good turnout when there's a structure fire or car accident,” Lewis said. “It's amazing. I think you have to be commended.”