Ellington Says 'Yes' To New Tanker Truck

ELLINGTON, CT — The Crystal Lake Fire Department is well on its way toward getting a new tanker truck following recent approval by voters at a town meeting late last month.

A total of 16 voters at a May 25 special town meeting easily said yes to appropriating $850,000 for a new tanker truck to serve the CLFDF.

The voice vote was unanimous and the decision was part of a fast town meeting that lasted less than 10 minutes at Ellington Town Hall.

Funding for the tanker will come from American Rescue Plan funds appropriated to the town by the federal government, part of a program that reimburses towns for costs associated with the pandemic.

Ellington selectmen voted at their most recent meeting to nix the formal bidding process to secure a better deal on the new tanker truck.

The Ellington Board of Selectmen voted unanimously May 17 to waive the formal bidding process and award a contract for a new tanker to Dublin, Ohio,-based Suthen Corp., pending approval at a town meeting, which voters granted later.

CLFD Chief Timothy Seitz had asked the town to waive the bidding process in order to secure a better deal with Suthen.

He told selectmen May 17 the price for the tanker was locked in until June 5, after which the price would go up by $37,000.

Ellington Finance Officer/Treasurer Tiffany Pignataro briefed selectmen on the logistics of waiving the bidding process and she said it is allowed under ARP guidelines.

She said the town's finance board is also on board with the move, according to meeting minutes May 17.