The City Council voted 12-0 to withdraw $500,000 from the city's stabilization, or savings account, to buy the new pumper truck. It will replace a truck that is 16 years old.  

"This purchase will put the fire department in a very solid position in terms of our ability to respond with reliable apparatus when needed," Fire Chief Dean Desmarais said.  

He urged the City Council to approve the purchase as soon as possible since the price of the new truck increased by $13,908 in early February. Desmarais said he had negotiated a deal with the vendor to extend the original price of $488,823 but only if they acted within a week.