WATERVILLE — The City Council is scheduled Tuesday to consider whether to finalize spending up to $343,496 for a new ambulance for the Waterville Fire Department.

The meeting is planned for 7 p.m. at The Elm at 21 College Ave. Those wanting to take part remotely may do so via a link on the city’s website — www.waterville-me.gov.

The Fire Department has an immediate need for a new ambulance to supplement two used ambulances it has been using to transport patients, according to Chief Shawn Esler.

The council held the first of two needed votes April 5 to take funds from the fire rescue reserve account to buy an ambulance and related equipment.

Councilors are scheduled Tuesday to take a second, final vote to authorize City Manager Steve Daly to spend $250,000 from the Fire Department reserve account and $90,000 from the city’s general fund to buy the ambulance.

The order stipulates the Fire Department would pay back the $90,000 from the general fund in three, three-year payments of $30,000.

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In another ambulance-related vote Tuesday, the City Council is to consider whether to authorize Daly to contract with Autotronics for the ambulance. Autotronics sells emergency vehicles from locations in Bangor and Frenchville.

The council’s 7-0 vote April 5 to appropriate money for an ambulance followed a long discussion, with Councilor Claude Francke, D-Ward 6, questioning the timing of buying an ambulance before the municipal budget process has been completed.

Esler said most of the money for the ambulance and equipment would come from the Fire Department reserve account, which is money the department has garnered through running its own ambulance service.

Councilors amended the request to buy the ambulance, deciding $250,000 would come from the department reserve account and the $90,000 for the equipment — including a stretcher, power loader to lift extremely heavy patients and heart monitor — to come from the city’s general fund.

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