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EASTON, Conn. After town officials found that a ride to school on a fire truck was being auctioned off, the Easton Board of Selectmen decided to review the towns policy on use of the town's assets.
A recent Easton Learning Foundation fundraiser offered a ride for a child and three friends from home to school on an Easton fire truck. The results of the auction have yet to be disclosed, but the minimum bid was $275.
First Selectman Thomas Herrmann said he wasnt sure whether this was a good or bad thing but said the town needs to develop a proper policy and look into what is covered and what is not covered under the towns insurance.
Unless we address this issue, I am not sure where we might end up, he said during last week's selectmen meeting. "I just dont know what the insurance policies are on this."
Herrmann also said that if a private program could auction a fire truck ride to benefit school funding, he wondered whether the town could auction use of a wood chipper for charity or if the police could do the same thing for the benevolent fund.
Selectman Robert Lessler agreed, saying there was no question the fire truck ride was for a good cause. But he said this is a slippery slope the town would be headed down if a policy was not put in place.
Selectman Scott Centrella said the fire truck ride was a great idea for an auction item but said he was concerned about the liability issue if a child were to get hurt.
The selectmen decided the town needed research the policy within the fire department and look into possible liability issues. The item could be discussed in more detail during the next Board of Selectmen meeting in January.
What do you think? Should Easton allow the use of town property to be auctioned off?
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