A 13-year old marine patrol boat owned by the Candlewood Lake Authority needs to be replaced.  The CLA is asking the five towns that surround the lake to help pay for a new vessel.  The cost is estimated at about $52,000.  The old boat was taken in for repairs this summer, but by October it was deemed unsafe for use and taken out of service.  This leaves the marine patrol with one working boat. 

CLA Executive Director Larry Marsicano says the boat they are looking to purchase has a 10-year hull warranty with an estimated useful life of 20 years. 

CLA, through the town of Sherman, has applied for a grant from the Intertown Capital Equipment Purchasing Incentive Program.  The grant, plus matching funds from the towns, would pay for about 60-percent of the cost.  The balance is available in the CLA Capital Equipment Reserve Fund.  Marsicano says Brookfield, New Fairfield and New Milford have approved applying for the grant.  Sherman and Danbury plan to get approval within the next month. 

If the grant from the state Office of Policy and Management is not approved, CLA will ask the five towns to each chip in $9,500.

Marsicano says they would like to order the boat before the end of the year so that it will be delivered before the boating season.