Norwich – After several candidate forums in recent weeks, the referendum question asking whether voters support a $3.2 million bond to purchase five new fire vehicles and other equipment will take center stage Saturday on the Norwichtown Green.

The Yantic volunteer fire department will host a rally from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Norwichtown Green in support of the bond. The event will include the six vehicles slated to be replaced by the new purchases, with firefighters from the volunteer fire departments who operate the aging vehicles on hand to explain their shortcomings and the replacement plan.

The event also will include fire safety displays and demonstrations for families and free refreshments.

The fire vehicles will be parked along the Elm Avenue side of the green. The six vehicles are: a 1988 tanker firetruck at the East Great Plain Volunteer Fire Department, a 1983 engine pumper truck at the Laurel Hill Fire Department, a 1982 heavy rescue vehicle, a 1986 pumper truck and a 2000 squad vehicle, all from the Taftville Volunteer Fire Department and a 1979 engine pumper at Yantic.

The referendum bond calls for purchasing an engine tanker for East Great Plain, a rescue pumper and a large squad vehicle for Taftville, a pumper for Yantic and a pumper for the Laurel Hill department. The six vehicles to be replaced would be removed from service and sold.

If money is available, the bond also would include the purchase of “any additional public safety equipment, including communications equipment, as later determined and approved by resolution of the City Council.”

A calculation by the city Finance Department showed the tax impact for the first five years of the 20-year bond if the bond is approved. If the city obtained a 4 percent interest rate, a homeowner with a house assessed at the median value of $93,800 – appraised value of $134,000 – would pay $17 in each of the first two years starting in the 2018-19 fiscal year, $16 in each of the next two years and $15 in the fifth year.

c.bessette@theday.com