Special Town Meeting voters approved a $75,000 appropriation towards a used ladder truck, which will be purchased from the City of Boston.

This summer, Fire Chief Scott Weigel approached Selectmen with a request to replace a 1972 truck that department had been using.

That vehicle has been out of service for six months. Built in 2001, the Boston truck has 69,000 miles and will be refurbished before it’s delivered to town. Questions were raised about the need for a ladder truck in a small town.

“Are we purchasing an item we will never use? I hope not,” said Gary Laboa,  a resident.

Fire officials said they hope to never use any the department’s equipment, but with the Town House, church steeples,  the Council on Aging and many other two-story structures in town, the truck adds safety for first responders and residents.

Chimney fires are also a common occurrence in town. Voters passed the appropriation by a vote of 225 to 12.