CLARENVILLE, N.L. — Now that the Town of Clarenville has secured plans to erect a new fire hall, it is now adding to the fleet — approving a tender call to get a new ladder truck for their volunteer fire department.
After the province announced funding through the fire protection vehicles infrastructure program, with a maximum of $100,000 to contribute towards the purchase of a used ladder truck, the town approved the motion at Tuesday, April 23’s council meeting.
With a requirement to issue a tender to obtain bids for the ladder truck, the unanimous motion passed to start that process.
Before the motion at the council meeting, the announcement was first made public on Facebook by Terra Nova MHA Colin Holloway before the election writ was dropped.
He mentioned the need for the ladder truck was due to the many larger buildings in the town, acknowledging the major fire at the Wave Hotel earlier this year.
Clarenville’s chief administrative officer, David Harris, told The Packet in an interview the ladder truck was previously not able to fit in the existing fire hall, in the same building as the town hall, but there will be space for it in the new fire hall.
In addition, he says, if the department gets the truck before the new hall is completed, it can arrange to have it stored in the meantime.
Harris also said while the motion to go to tender is approved by council, the process may or may not have to wait until after the upcoming provincial election.
He adds the ultimate go-ahead will be needed from the province before issuing the tender.
Twitter: @jejparsons
