East Bridgewater Approves $1.2 Million Fire Engine Purchase at Special Town Meeting
EAST BRIDGEWATER - October 27 - Voters approved a $1.2 million purchase of a new fire engine Monday night, replacing a nearly 30-year-old pumper that Fire Chief John Dzialo said is well beyond its useful life and cannot be reliably used in emergencies.
The Full Story
The Special Town Meeting moved efficiently through 22 warrant articles Monday evening, with voters approving 20 items ranging from the $1.2 million fire engine to alcohol licensing reforms and new zoning regulations. Two fire department articles were passed over after officials found ways to fund the items through existing budgets.
The fire engine purchase, the evening’s largest single expenditure, drew the most extensive discussion. Chief Dzialo emphasized both the urgency of replacement and the escalating costs of delay.
“This is a replacement of a fire engine that’s part of our aging fleet, it’s almost 30 years old,” Chief Dzialo told voters. “The average lifespan of a fire engine and pumper is about 15 to 20 years if you really stretch it out. So this is well beyond the need for replacement.”
The chief said the outdated equipment carried on the aging engine is incompatible with modern firefighting operations and cannot be reliably used or refurbished.
Dzialo warned that costs have skyrocketed in recent years. “I look back through some records and we had a capital estimate for back in 2023 that was about $650,000 to replace an engine. So we’re doubling in cost,” he explained. The approved $1.2 million represents “the lower end of the cost” for new fire engines, which now range from $1.2 to $1.5 million.
Manufacturing delays also factored into the urgency. “The build-out time or the lead time is almost two to three years for this thing to show up,” the chief said. “So if we wait any longer, it’s not like we’ll be able to get it any quicker and the prices are probably going to be a lot higher.”
The article, which drew $1 million from Capital Stabilization and $200,000 from Ambulance Receipts, passed with the required two-thirds majority.
Other Fire Department requests saw mixed results. Article 2, originally seeking $69,181 for contractual sick buybacks for three retiring firefighters, was amended to $26,552 after only one firefighter actually retired. Two other articles seeking $10,869 for document management shelving and $7,500 for promotional assessment centers were passed over after the Finance Committee helped identify existing budget funds for those purposes. A fifth article authorizing a five-year contract for EMS ambulance billing services passed unanimously.
The Police Department secured $17,986 for a retiring patrol officer’s contractual buyout and $18,860 for promotional assessment centers.
Two Planning Board zoning articles could reshape development in the town’s commercial corridors. Articles 18 and 19 establish identical regulations allowing second-floor residential apartments above commercial ground-floor uses in the B-2 and B-3 business districts. The regulations require minimum 400-square-foot units, limit buildings to six apartments and two-and-a-half stories, and mandate rear parking and access to minimize conflicts with commercial operations. Both passed with the required two-thirds majority.
Alcohol licensing changes sparked the evening’s only real debate. Article 20 passed easily, authorizing Sunday morning alcohol sales between 10:00 a.m. and noon at restaurants. Town Administrator Charlie Seelig noted that local restaurants requested the expanded hours.
Article 21 drew closer scrutiny. Select Board member Peter Spagone presented an amended version that would petition the state legislature for four additional package store licenses—two for all alcoholic beverages and two for wine and malt beverages only. The original article sought four all-alcohol licenses.
Catherine Wolfe of Laurel Street questioned the expansion. When Seelig explained that all eight of the town’s existing package store licenses are currently in use and that quotas are set by state law based on community size, Wolfe asked pointedly: “So we want to go back to the legislature and ask them if we can have more alcohol in the town?”
“Alcohol package store licenses,” Seelig clarified.
Spagone defended the request. “The town hasn’t looked at their licensing for quite some time. We have some small businesses in town, a couple that have inquired about this, so the board has decided to see if we can get it approved by the state.”
The vote was close enough to require a hand count, but the article ultimately passed with a simple majority.
Article 22, allowing restaurants with beer and wine licenses to also sell liqueurs and cordials, passed without debate. Seelig explained that establishments could serve cordials and liqueurs but not straight spirits like vodka or whiskey.
Administrative and operational articles passed with minimal discussion. Article 1 transferred $8,500 within Board of Health accounts from personnel to professional services. Article 9 set salaries for elected officials for fiscal year 2026, including the Town Clerk at $84,875, Select Board members at $2,500 each, Assessors at $1,500 each, Board of Health members at $900 each, and the Moderator at $500.
Additional appropriations included $3,000 for animal control services, $5,500 for library department head salaries, and $12,000 for town-wide user device replacement. The town also authorized a lease-purchase agreement for two new dump trucks with $69,837 in first-year Chapter 90 funding.
Article 13 established criminal background check requirements for door-to-door solicitation licenses. Applicants must submit fingerprints to the Police Department within 10 days for state and federal checks through the Massachusetts State Police, the Department of Criminal Justice Information Systems, and the FBI before final licensing decisions.
Article 15 adopted a state law allowing veterans and surviving spouses of deceased veterans who have not remarried to volunteer for the town in exchange for property tax reductions. The reduction cannot exceed minimum wage multiplied by hours worked, subject to an annual maximum set by the Select Board.
Article 16 codified the Conservation Commission in town bylaws as a seven-member board with three-year staggered terms and three one-year associate members, responsible for administering the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act.
Article 17 doubled the annual innholder and common victualler license fee from $50 to $100.
Before adjourning, the moderator reminded voters that another town meeting is scheduled for November 15 to address the Central School Project. He also announced that town elections would be held at the middle school rather than the high school.
Why It Matters
The $1.2 million fire engine purchase represents a critical investment in public safety infrastructure, ensuring the Fire Department can respond effectively to emergencies with reliable, modern equipment. The two-to-three-year delivery timeline means residents won’t see the new engine until at least 2027 or 2028, making the timing of this approval crucial given escalating costs and extended manufacturing delays.
The zoning changes for mixed-use development in the B-2 and B-3 districts could encourage new housing development above commercial spaces in the town’s business areas, potentially addressing housing needs while maintaining commercial vitality. The alcohol licensing changes reflect evolving business needs and could provide economic benefits to local restaurants and retailers, though some residents expressed concern about increasing alcohol availability in town.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Article 1 - Board of Health Account Transfer: Transfer $8,500 from Board of Health Agent account to Professional Services account. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous. (Timestamp: 5:30-6:01)
Article 2 - Firefighter Contractual Sick Buyback (Amended): Transfer $26,552 from free cash for one retired firefighter’s sick buyback (reduced from original request of $69,181 for three firefighters). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous. (Timestamp: 6:06-8:03)
Article 3 - Fire Engine Purchase: Transfer $1 million from Capital Stabilization and $200,000 from Ambulance Receipts to purchase new fire engine. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, more than two-thirds majority (required). (Timestamp: 8:04-10:34)
Articles 4 & 6 - Fire Department Expenses: Motion to pass over both articles ($10,869 for document management shelving and $7,500 for promotional assessments). Outcome: Passed over. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous. (Timestamp: 10:34-11:32)
Article 5 - EMS Billing Contract: Authorize five-year contract for comprehensive EMS administrative services and ambulance billing collection. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous with Finance Committee recommendation. (Timestamp: 11:32-11:57)
Article 7 - Police Retirement Buyout: Transfer $17,986 from free cash for retiring patrol officer’s contractual buyout. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous.
Article 8 - Police Promotional Assessments: Transfer $18,860 from free cash for sergeant and lieutenant promotional assessment centers. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous with Finance Committee recommendation.
Article 9 - Elected Officials’ Salaries: Set salaries for FY26 for elected officials (Moderator $500, Town Clerk $84,875, Select Board members $2,500 each, Assessors $1,500 each, Board of Health members $900 each). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous.
Article 10 - Animal Control Funding: Transfer $3,000 from free cash for animal control services contract. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous.
Article 11 - Library Salary Funding: Transfer $5,500 from free cash for Library Department Head salaries. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous.
Article 12 - IT Device Replacement: Transfer $12,000 from free cash for town-wide user device replacement. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous.
Article 13 - Criminal History Check Bylaw: Establish criminal background check requirements for door-to-door solicitation license applicants. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous.
Article 14 - DPW Dump Trucks Lease: Authorize lease-purchase agreement for two Ford F750 dump trucks with first-year payment of $69,837 from Chapter 90 funds. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous with Finance Committee recommendation.
Article 15 - Veterans Tax Work-Off Program: Accept state law allowing veterans to volunteer for tax reductions. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous.
Article 16 - Conservation Commission Bylaw: Codify Conservation Commission in town bylaws with seven members and three associates. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous.
Article 17 - Innholder/Victualler License Fee: Increase annual license fee from $50 to $100. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous.
Article 18 - B-2 District Mixed-Use Zoning: Allow second-floor residential units above commercial uses in Business 2 district with specific requirements. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, two-thirds majority (required).
Article 19 - B-3 District Mixed-Use Zoning: Allow second-floor residential units above commercial uses in Business 3 district with specific requirements. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, two-thirds majority (required).
Article 20 - Sunday Morning Alcohol Sales: Authorize on-premise alcohol sales between 10:00 a.m. and noon on Sundays. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous. (Timestamp: 28:30-28:53)
Article 21 - Additional Package Store Licenses (Amended): Petition state legislature for two additional all-alcohol package store licenses and two wine/malt beverage licenses (amended from four all-alcohol licenses). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Hand count after close voice vote, simple majority. (Timestamp: 28:54-33:10)
Article 22 - Liqueurs and Cordials for Restaurants: Accept state law allowing restaurants with beer and wine licenses to also sell liqueurs and cordials. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, unanimous. (Timestamp: 33:11-35:00)
Public Comment
Public comment was minimal during the meeting. The only substantive question came from Catherine Wolfe of Laurel Street, who asked about the number of existing alcoholic beverage licenses in town and questioned the need to petition the state legislature for additional package store licenses. Town Administrator Charlie Seelig explained that the town currently has five beer and wine package store licenses and three all-alcohol licenses, all currently in use, and that quotas are based on community size under state law.
What’s Next
The new fire engine, once ordered, will have a two-to-three-year build-out and delivery timeline, meaning it likely won’t arrive until 2027 or 2028. The Select Board will need to petition the state legislature for the additional package store licenses approved in Article 21. The Planning Board will develop implementation guidelines for the newly approved mixed-use zoning in the B-2 and B-3 districts. Another Special Town Meeting is scheduled for November 15, 2025, at the middle school to address the Central School Project. Town elections will also be held at the middle school rather than the high school.