NORWICH – Two weeks after the City of Norwich Finance / Personnel Committee argued against the purchase of a new fire truck, members of the Common Council voted 5-0 in favor of awarding the bid for $314,749 at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Committee members spoke at length about the fire truck purchase during their Dec. 2 meeting, which concluded with the committee moving the possible purchase to the full council without making a recommendation. Sixth Ward Alderman Robert Jeffrey had said during the committee meeting that he wasn’t against getting the truck, but was leery about spending during uncertain economic times. “I’m not against getting the truck, I’m just wondering can we afford it? Is there anything we can do to get the cost down, because it’s a back breaker during these times,” Jeffrey had said at the Finance Committee meeting.

Tuesday night, the Common Council decided to move forward with the purchase. “It’s not that the council wants to spend the money, but we don’t have much choice at this point,” said First Ward Alderman Robert Carey. If the city does not purchase a truck before the end of the year, new regulations will be in place that could raise the cost by as much as $3,000.