Pepperell Selectmen Approve $47,000 in Reserve Transfers Amid Fire Fleet Crisis

PEPPERELL — May 11, 2015 — Pepperell selectmen approved $47,000 in reserve fund transfers and disclosed the town's lone ladder truck is currently out of service. The board voted unanimously to transfer $20,000 to the fire department to repair the hydraulic pistons on the department's 1987 ladder truck, which Fire Chief Toby Tyler told selectmen "cannot be certified the way it is now because it does drift" and leaves the town dependent on mutual-aid response from Groton, Townsend, Hollis, or Ayer — a 15-to-20-minute delay. The board also approved $15,000 for a surge in veterans benefits caseload and $12,000 for legal services tied to firefighters union certification proceedings under MGL Chapter 150E. Separately, the board transferred the all-alcohol package store license at 162 Main Street from Lyric Liquors, Limited, to Pepperell Package Store, Incorporated, doing business as Ray's Package Store, with attorney Brian Leahy representing proposed manager Satish M. Patel. Town Administrator Mark Boyle reported the town has executed a $62,377 MassDOT road repair contract requiring expenditure by June 30 and announced a $15,072 giveback from the Massachusetts Municipal Association's insurance pool.