SWAMPSCOTT — On Thursday afternoon, the Capital Improvement Committee gathered to review a number of requests presented by both the Police and Fire Departments for the fiscal year of 2026.
Swampscott Fire Chief Graham Archer spoke before the committee on the two requests of the Fire dept., with the first request centered around a new aerial ladder-truck for firemen to use. Archer noted this is the third year where he’s had to request a new truck.
He explained the current latter-truck used by the dept. is a model from 2004, made by the company “American LaFrance” (which officially went out of business in 2014). Being one of the two vehicles used to fight fires on the front lines, Archer emphasized that the ladder-truck acts as a critical tool for dept. in reaching tall structures or buildings.
“It’s a truck that really is on borrowed time,” Archer said. “I’m really happy that it’s running sound, but it’s beyond its practical lifetime.”
He noted the cost of maintaining the truck is “more than it should be”, according to Archer. He also highlighted the truck has suffered general wear and tear from its use over the years, and that the dept. has made do with “creative MacGyvering”, Archer said.
During the meeting, Archer added that the amount of time searching for a replacement is a tedious matter, citing the time it took Salem to replace one of their trucks was around a year. “The caveat is, sometimes, you can be lucky and find a truck on a lot that is close enough to your specifications, you might find something.
Archer also added that the final amount for replacing the arial-ladder truck was expected to be around $1.6 million. He said the total number also accounts for equipment the dept. will need to include within the truck.
The second request on behalf of the fire dept. by Archer was a vehicle primarily driven the Deputy Chief for inspections and fire investigations. Archer explained the vehicle they’re currently looking to replace is a 2008 Chevy Tahoe.
According to Archer, he’s been in touch with the truck supplier McGovern Municipal HQ. “I’ve been talking with them, and they got back to me with an all-electric Chevy Blazer.” Archer claimed the updated quote for replacing the vehicle would be $75,000.
After Archer’s presentation, Committee member Ryan Hale motioned for the Committee to recommend appropriations for the two Fire projects for the fiscal year of 2026. The decision among Committee members to pass the motion was unanimous.
Swampscott Police Chief Ruben Quesada was the next to speak.
Quesada noted the primary concern for Swampscott Police is the dispatch console inside the police station. Quesada explained how its function is critical to police operations, helping officers see what calls other officers are currently on, as well as contacting police stations surrounding communities.
“This current dispatch console is almost thirty years old,” Quesada said, noting the console was carried over from the old precinct on Burril Street. “A lot of the things that we’ve been finding is that this console is so outdated that it needs to be replaced.”
He noted for repairs on the console, the dept. is forced to search for parts from old radio systems state-wide. The price for replacing the system would be roughly $250,000, according to Quesada.
“That’s very concerning to me, knowing that’s gonna be a very big capital expense,” Quesada said.
