The Board of Selectmen last week tabled a $52,500 purchase order for a New Canaan Police Department vehicle during its regular meeting, asking the agency to return with additional documentation before a vote.
Capt. Joseph Farenga presented the request during the Board’s June 23 meeting, seeking up to $52,500 for the purchase and outfitting of a used utility van for the department’s Special Response Team. The van would replace a 2002 ambulance the team has used for years to transport equipment and personnel during call-outs and training exercises, he said.
“It’s central for the team,” Farenga said during the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. He noted that a separate, older ambulance previously discussed by the board is intended for a different purpose, as a command and drone-operations vehicle.
First Selectman Dionna Carlson asked for additional details about the vehicle and how the price had been determined.
“This memo is not sufficient for us to approve this,” Carlson said. “I don’t know if there’s a backup for where you got the pricing.”
The memo provided to the Board did not specify the make of the vehicle, a four-passenger transit van, or include a quote or invoice to support the $52,500 figure, officials said.
“This memo doesn’t even say it’s a Ford, it’s just $52,500 for a vehicle,” Carlson said. “We need to see the details.”
Farenga said the price reflects a government contract rate, and offered to submit a more detailed memo in future meetings.
“From when the memo was submitted to today, should we submit a more updated memo before the meeting?” he asked.
Carlson responded: “Yes, we should have the quote so we can have that data.”
Selectman Amy Murphy Carroll asked whether the $52,500 covered the full cost of replacing the old ambulance, or whether additional outfitting expenses were expected.
Farenga responded: “There will be some outfitting costs coming in,” adding that those funds would be drawn from the department’s extra duty account.
With questions still unanswered, Carlson moved to table the item.
“Why don’t we push this till later?” she said. “We need more information to look at.”
The funds in question are rollover dollars from the current fiscal year’s budget, meaning the department will not lose access to the money while the item is brought back before the Board with additional documentation.