ADAMS, Mass. — The Fire Department's Engine 2 is suffering from rust and the Prudential Committee needs to decide if it should be fixed or run until it can be replaced. 

 

Fire Chief David Lennon told the Prudential Committee on Monday about the condition of the 20-year-old truck and acknowledged it's going to be an costly endeavor. 

 

"If we choose to do this, it's going to be so expensive that it would have to be put out for multiple people to look at and possibly bid on, but moreover, we have to look at what the long-term plans are to decide if we want to spend that money on that truck," he said. "If we're going to replace it on its usual schedule, which would be in under 10 years now, so we have to decide."

 

Lennon said his thought was that it was similar to getting a medical diagnosis: since they've got one opinion, "it'd behoove us to get a second opinion to see.

 

"We see that it's rusting, but is that rust going to be completely detrimental to running that for the period that we want to run it for, and have somebody else look at it now," he said. "As far as who that would be, I don't know, but I think that's what we should discuss and see moving forward."

 

The committee set a workshop for Friday, Sept. 11, at 4 p.m.

 

Superintendent John C. Barrett said he plans to install a new system and water main for the Adams Housing Authority's 64 one-bedroom units in the Columbia Valley facility, which will mean a new suppression system for all of the buildings.

 

The 1970s complex does not have sprinklers; just a four-inch potable service and a private hydrant. It is likely to need a new 4-inch connection for sprinklers and the district has flow-tested mains on Columbia Street already. 

 

To save costs for the housing authority, the district may recommend connecting on Valley Street if hydraulically adequate, Barrett said. A hydraulic analysis for Valley Street will be done once the authority applies for the connection.

 

In other news, bookkeeper Victoria Lassonde noted they will need to update personnel rules and regulations for the new on-call position and will bring specific sections for change to the next agenda.

 

She said they need to formally approve pay scales that were discussed during the budget process, which is important because on-call first-quarter payments in October must align with approved scales.