Finance Committee backs $300,000 Engine 2 refurbishment

Finance Committee · Meeting of October 19, 2026

BELLINGHAM — The Finance Committee voted 6-0 to recommend $300,000 in free cash to refurbish the Fire Department's Engine 2. Fire officials said the 2019 engine has about 81,000 miles and corroded bodywork, and warned that skipping the work could mean a $1.1 million to $1.2 million replacement in two to three years. The committee also recommended $577,000 from retained earnings to recoat the Chestnut Street water tower, avoiding a $2.15 million rehabilitation, and a $108,636 package including a $31,726 water pump.

Members tabled Articles 9 and 10, a $9 million Hartford Avenue bond, until they see modeling of the risk if development lags. John Allam stayed chairman, and Wayne Poitras was elected vice chairman 6-0.

In the full story:

• Organization and minutes
• Public hearing on fall Town Meeting articles
• Articles 1 through 5: no action
• Article 20: additional all-alcohol license (citizen petition)
• Article 6: Engine 2 refurbishment, $300,000 free cash
• Article 7: non-capital and capital items, $108,636
• Article 8: Chestnut Street water tank recoating, $577,000
• Articles 9 and 10: Hartford Avenue DIF and $9 million bond
• Article 19 and remaining articles
• Article 21: Pearl Street land
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,749 words

Source: the Finance Committee meeting of October 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.