Fire Chief Requests $1.8 Million Ladder Truck
The Finance Committee opened its budget review season with a $1.8 million ladder truck request and other capital pleas.
Finance Committee · Meeting of February 26, 2026
WEST BOYLSTON — The Finance Committee opened its budget review season with a $1.8 million ladder truck request and other capital pleas. Fire Chief Sadowski said the department's 1998 aerial truck needs replacing at a total cost of $1.8 million, warning "it's only a matter of time before we have either a catastrophic failure." Town Administrator Carter has told the board hard budget requests exceed available funds by $300,000 to $400,000. Senior Center Director Kim Maskey asked for $10,000 to $14,000 for a new keyless access system, down from an original $30,000 ask, while rental revenue has climbed from $80 to a projected $10,570 next year.
Library Director Michael requested $25,000 for an air handler control upgrade and $12,000 for roof seam repairs, warning decertification "would put West Boylston residents at risk of losing library services statewide." Sadowski also disclosed the department had been providing "pro bono ambulance trips" to the county jail for years due to an insurance mix-up.
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Source: the Finance Committee meeting of February 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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