MONMOUTH — Town officials next month will ask voters to spend nearly $25,000 to replace the engine in a firetruck that went into service just four years ago.

The money will be used to repair or replace the motor in Engine 86, a quad-cab pumper truck based in North Monmouth. The town paid nearly $350,000 for the truck in 2011 to replace a 1977 pumper.

Town Manager Curtis Lunt said the engine was damaged by dust that filtrated into the engine block through a broken air filter. The town has filed a claim against the truck’s manufacturer, Louisiana-based Ferrara Fire Apparatus, and the company that installed the filter, Michigan-based HME.

“This could be a lengthy process, deciding who is going to pay,” Lunt said.

Lunt said selectmen hope the companies will ultimately cover the cost of repairing the engine, which is expected to reach at least $24,000, but in the meantime the truck needs to be repaired. To do so selectmen next month will hold a special town meeting to ask voters to approve the use of town savings to cover the cost.

The truck was taken to an area shop last week to be repaired.

Selectmen have scheduled a public hearing on the proposal for 6 p.m. Dec. 23 at the town office. The referendum vote is set for Jan. 5, 2016.

Voters at last June’s annual town meeting agreed to buy two more firetrucks, a pumper and heavy rescue truck, to replace three existing trucks: a 1988 pumper, a 2001 pumper and a 2008 heavy rescue truck. The two new trucks are currently being built at Ferrara.

“Fire Chief Dan Roy has been in Louisiana this week to review the factory build,” Lunt said. “He has discussed the concerns we have about the air filtration with company officials.”

Lunt gave selectmen an update on the truck during last week’s regular board meeting, which also featured a visit from State Representative Randall Greenwood, R-Wales, and Regional School Unit 2 Superintendent Bill Zima.

Greenwood offered a brief review of last year’s legislative session and a preview of the one that is coming up. Residents asked Greenwood about conservation bonds being held up by Gov. Paul LePage and the governor’s refusal thus far to name a replacement for Beverly Daggett, who died earlier this year, on the Kennebec County Commissioners.

Greenwood said he would look into the matter.

Selectwoman Sandra Schiller said the county cannot function properly with only two commissioners. Sher urged Greenwood to look for a solution.

“I don’t care if it’s Republican, Democrat or what. We need three commissioners,” Schiller said.

Zima, who joined the RSU in August, spent part of his visit introducing himself to selectmen.

One of Zima’s primary missions is advancing a grading model that RSU 2 helped pioneer in Maine. The system has transitioned fully to a proficiency-based system, which replaces traditional letter grades with standards in each subject area representing skills and concepts. On each standard, students typically get a grade of 1 to 4, with a 3 indicating proficiency. Selectwoman Darlene Sanborn, who has a child in high school, said the new system includes no penalty for students who fail to complete their homework.

“It’s a huge frustration I have,” she said.

Zima agreed that students should have deadlines to meet to help prepare them for adulthood, but he said students also must be given time to get up to speed with material with which they may be struggling.

“It’s not that we don’t want kids to have deadlines,” Zima said, “but what we want to do is make sure we don’t close the door on learning.”

Craig Crosby — 621-5642

ccrosby@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @CraigCrosby4

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