Every week we set out to answer a question submitted by one of our readers as part of our You Ask...Patch Answers column.

On Wednesday, we received an email from a local resident who was wondering when the Marblehead Fire Department's new $1.2 million quint ladder truck would be pulling into the station on Ocean Avenue.

They asked: "I was so pleased to hear that town residents approved the fire department's request for a new fire truck at last month's special election. Can you find out when they expect to have it at the station?"

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At a Board of Selectmen's meeting at Abbot Hall on June 27, board members unanimously approved a motion to award a contract for the department's new 100-foot heavy-duty aerial quint to Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wisc.

Prior to the vote, Fire Chief Jason Gilliland took a moment to thank the town officials and local residents who supported his effort to upgrade the department's fleet.

"I just want to thank you, the board, for your support, the finance committee and above all, the citizens who came out to support this," Gilliland said. "We truly appreciate this very much."

The contract, which was for $1,051,904, was signed by Chairwoman Jackie Belf-Becker and should mean that the new ladder truck could arrive as early as January.

"We only have so much time to award a contract and we want to get this contract signed and in by the first week of July, which would mean delivery of the new fire truck by Jan. 7," Gilliland said.

The name "quint" means five, and refers to the five functions that a quint provides: pump, water tank, fire hose, aerial ladder and ground ladders.

Here's a look at how town residents voted in last month's election:

If you have a question for us, not matter how strange it may seem, let us know and we'll try to find the answers.