BRUNSWICK

After an at-times fiery debate, the Freeport Town Council rejected a call to put off purchase of a replacement fire engine for three years on Tuesday.

Freeport Fire/Rescue wants $750,000 in capital improvement funds to replace Engine No. 3, which is nearly 30 years old and was meant to be taken out of service in 2009. The engine serves as a reserve pumper and helps provide a water source in rural areas.

The request is part of a reportedly $2.5 million capital improvement fund plan for the next fiscal year.

Town Councilor Andy Wellen said he wanted to push the engine purchase off in order to save $30,000 per year over the next three years. That money, he said, could go to offset taxes.

“There’s minimal downside in trying to get three more years out of Engine 3,” Wellen said. “When we do put off a big purchase like that we do save some money.”

There are “no real big problems” with engine, he said, adding that the worst case scenario would be that the department would be without an engine and would “have to rely on Brunswick.”

“It’s a risk worth taking,” Wellen said, who was apparently alone in that sentiment.

Wellen’s motion failed 1-6.

Councilor Sarah Tracy noted that Engine No. 3 is now below industry standards for firefighter safety.

“You can’t put a price on the loss of a home,” said Councilor Jim Hendricks. “You can’t put a price on a firefighter’s life.”

At one point, an argument broke out between a visibly annoyed Hendricks and Wellen over whether Wellen’s plan could be used to offset tax increases.

Deputy Chief Paul Conley noted the $750,000 cost is an estimate, and that the department is looking to find the best price for the engine.

“It’s an expensive piece of equipment,” Conley said, but noted, “it is well worth it.”

The debate was part of an overall hearing and discussion over the town’s capital improvement fund, in which Wellen also motioned, and failed, 1-6, to eliminate all funding for the Freeport Economic Corporation, noting that economic development should be guided within town government.

The council will decide whether to adopt the capital improvement plan on May 14. The capital budget may be adopted in June.

jswinconeck@timesrecord.com