– Oxford waives bid rule to buy used public safety vehicle - Lewiston Sun Journal

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Oxford Town Manager Adam Garland, far right, distributes his 2022-23 draft budget Thursday night to the Budget Committee and selectmen at the Municipal Center. The budget review will begin next week. From left are Peter Laverdierre (hidden) of the Budget Committee, Selectman Dana Dillingham, board Vice Chairwoman Sharon Jackson, Chairman Caldwell Jackson, Selectman Scott Hunter and Garland. The man in the foreground is unidentified. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat

OXFORD — The Board of Selectmen on Thursday unanimously approved waiving the required bidding process in order to purchase a used Chevrolet Tahoe SUV for the Fire Department for $44,000. The money will be taken from surplus.

The SUV will replace the 2011 Ford Expedition, which needs $6,000 of body work to pass inspection this month.

Fire and Rescue Chief Paul Hewey said the wait for new vehicles is running 25 to 30 weeks. He was referred to a dealer in Albany, New York, that has more than a dozen used public safety vehicles. He said a Chevrolet Tahoe would cost $44,000.

Once purchased, the department’s command vehicle will be outfitted to Oxford’s specifications by Professional Vehicle Corp. in Rumford for another $10,000.

The Budget Committee attended the meeting.

Town Manager Adam Garland told the committee and selectmen that by reorganizing expense accounts, the draft budget for 2022-23 municipal operations was decreased by $34,949.

“We changed how some things were calculated and set them in a more efficient way,” Garland said. “This is not from cutting services. The police budget has increased, but I added animal control to that budget because the animal control officer reports to the police chief. We combined fire and emergency medical services into one budget.”

Garland also pointed out that previously the Public Safety Building on Route 26 was in one budget line and the North End Station on Pottle Road was in the Fire Department’s budget. They have been combined into one budget.

The budget review process will begin Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Municipal Center on Pleasant Street. The public safety buildings and fire and rescue budgets will be presented, including capital purchases. Garland asked that committee members and selectmen review them and reach out with any questions before then.

In other business, selectmen unanimously renewed Oxford Casino’s operations license.

They also authorized using $40,000 from surplus to help pay for King Street’s sidewalks to be redone. Selectmen had approved the project last year for $125,000 but it could not be completed. The cost of asphalt and other materials has increased by $40,000 and will be done early this summer.

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