WILTON – After discussions with Ambulance Chief Steve Desrosiers on Monday, the Board of Selectmen agreed to purchase a rapid response vehicle for the ambulance service. The vehicle will allow paramedics to respond to an emergency much faster than they do now.

Desrosiers had requested the purchase of a used vehicle last November, but, he told selectmen, “we lost that bid by a hundred dollars.” He has now located another one.

The vehicle being purchased is a 2010 Ford Expedition. It was previously used at the Seabrook Power Station and replaced through their normal replacement cycle so has relatively few miles on it. It will be purchased through an outside agency for $9,200, Desrosiers said. The money will come from the ambulance revolving fund.

While normally the purchase would go through town meeting, it is now too late for this year and the vehicle will not be available very long. It comes with lights and other equipment. Lettering will be added after town meeting.

In November, Desrosiers said the service “had 90 percent of the equipment needed” on hand for the new vehicle.

The vehicle will allow the paramedic on call to go directly to a scene and assess and stabilize the problem while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Now, the medic has to go to the station and arrive with the ambulance.

Selectman Chairman Bill Condra said, “I’d like to buy it. It’s a tool worth having. We’ve never had one and I believe we should do it.”

Kermit Williams agreed and agreed that using the revolving fund was the proper method.

Town Administrator Scott Butcher was authorized to work with Desrosiers and make the purchase.