Ambulance purchase remains within warrant total despite added stretcher system; board updated on final outfitting costs

Town staff updated the Milford Board of Selectmen that the ambulance purchase and upfitting will utilize the warranted $409,000 total after adding a Stryker power‑load stretcher system and remaining outfitting costs.

Public Safety staff explained that early contract estimates for the ambulance did not include the Stryker power‑load system; after review staff concluded it was preferable to include the Stryker system during manufacture rather than retrofit the vehicle later. The Stryker system added about $34,005 to the ambulance cost, bringing the current purchase total to about $396,599; remaining outfitting items — an estimated $6,000 stair chair and a pending radio transfer quote (estimated about $5,000) — are expected to bring the total close to the $409,000 warrant amount approved by voters in 2023.

Town officials emphasized this is not an additional appropriation beyond the warranted total but rather a reallocation of costs into a single purchase order for manufacturing and installation convenience. "It is not an increase in cost. We're just shifting the cost over," the presenter explained. The board was notified so members would not be surprised by combined invoices that group ambulance purchase and equipment together.

Board members asked whether sale proceeds from older equipment (an old stretcher or ambulance) would offset the purchase; staff confirmed proceeds from disposals will be returned to the general fund and are not being counted as trade or direct offset to the warranted purchase price. No formal vote was required or taken on the additional outfitting.