Canton OKs New Traffic Vehicle For Fire Department

CANTON, CT — The Town of Canton Fire & EMS Department will soon have a new vehicle to its fleet.

The Canton Board of Selectmen voted May 27 to approve a bid waiver allowing the Canton Fire & EMS Department to purchase a used traffic vehicle for up to $60,000, restoring a capability the department has been without for more than a year.

The board unanimously approved the request after hearing from Town of Canton Fire & EMS Department Chief Johnathan Gotaski, who outlined the department's operational need for the vehicle and the challenges of procuring used emergency-response equipment through a traditional bidding process.

The approved expenditure includes approximately $45,000 for the vehicle and $15,000 for modifications needed to place it into service.

According to town officials, the vehicle is a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck that will be retrofitted with emergency equipment, including sirens and department graphics. Existing radios will be reused.

Canton Deputy First Selectman Eric Winsor made the motion to approve the waiver, which was seconded by Canton First Selectman Kevin Witkos.

Gotaski told the board the department has been searching for a replacement traffic vehicle for more than a year.

He said the pickup truck would restore the department's apparatus fleet to full strength while adding a four-wheel-drive vehicle capable of operating in a variety of weather and road conditions.

The truck was identified at Davidson Chevrolet in Canton and carries a purchase price of $45,188, including documentation fees.

The department submitted comparable quotes for similar vehicles to support the request.

In a letter to the board, Gotaski said the used vehicle market makes formal competitive bidding difficult because identical vehicles are rarely available.

Canton Finance Officer Zoe Peak advised that board of selectmen approval was required to waive the bid process and proceed with the purchase.

The Canton Fire & EMS Department currently has approximately $116,490 available in its apparatus replacement fund, which will be used to cover the cost of the vehicle and upgrades.

Town officials said the vehicle will be used for traffic control, incident response, and towing-related operations.

With the waiver approved, the department can move forward with purchasing and outfitting the vehicle for service.

For the minutes of the May 27 Canton Board of Selectmen meeting, click on this link.

For documents related to the truck, click on this link and scroll to Page 9.

To watch the May 27 Canton Board of Selectmen meeting, click on this link.