GREENVILLE – Having firefighters wedged into the rear of a rescue van beside pressurized air bottles, a hardened-steel extrication device, and containers of gasoline and oil has raised concerns among volunteers who fear for their safety should an accident occur.

Because of those safety concerns, Fire Chief John Cobb has discontinued that practice. Some firefighters may now have to respond to emergencies in their personal vehicles, a less than ideal move which could result in congestion at fire scenes, according to firefighters and town officials.

“It concerns me greatly that we have a safety issue of this magnitude,” Town Manager John Simko told selectmen Wednesday.

A solution would be to purchase a four-wheel-drive truck with a crew cab and eight-foot body that could be safely used to ferry both firefighters and equipment, a move championed by Simko and Cobb.

Such a truck also would be capable of towing an all-terrain vehicle and snowmobile to snowmobile accidents and back-country hiking accidents, and could be used to access forest and grass fires in remote areas, according to Simko.

Firefighters currently use a personal vehicle to tow the snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle on emergency calls.

Selectmen, who supported the recommendation Wednesday, directed the fire department to specify criteria for the proposed truck purchase and to solicit bids.

Once the proposals have been submitted, town officials will know if there are enough funds in the fire department reserve account to cover the cost.

If the funds were taken from the reserve account now totaling $61,000, the purchase would have no impact on the proposed 2007-2008 municipal budget, Simko said.

In another matter Wednesday, Simko presented the board with an analysis of the tax commitment as part of budget preparations.

The trend over an 11-year period from 1996-1997 to 2006-2007 shows that municipal expenditures have risen an average of $54,188 per year, while the increase in school expenditures over that same period averaged $115,415 per year.

Simko said the total tax commitment for all services including education has increased by $1,515,137 over the 11-year period, averaging $137,739 per year.

Selectmen will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, to begin their review of the budget.