A town vehicle has changed hands, as a pickup truck has been transferred from the Rindge Police Department to the Rindge Recreation Department for use as a utility truck.

Police Chief Rachel Malynowski, along with officers Samuel Kelly and Jeffry Bain and police office manager Susana DiMarzio visited the Recreation Department to officially hand off the truck to the Recreation Department on Feb. 28.

Recreation Department Director Dan Bemis said Malynowski was looking to cycle the truck out of the department’s fleet, and initially offered it to the Highway Department as a plow truck. The department declined due to the horsepower being below what was needed in a municipal plow vehicle, but Bemis said the Recreation Department had plenty of use for a utility pickup.

“I have a personal truck that I’ve been using for the Recreation Department for seven years,” Bemis said.

Bemis has used his truck for things like transporting construction materials when the town was developing the playscape at Tetrault Park, and moving materials for town events such as the Fourth of July celebrations on the town common.

“It’s one of those things I would have liked to have since day one, but we don’t necessarily have the budget for a vehicle like that. It’s the perfect scenario for me to have a utility truck to use,” Bemis said. “We’re excited to put it to good use here.”

The Select Board approved the transfer of the vehicle to the Recreation Department, though Bemis said it will remain available for use by any department in need of a truck.

Members of the Police Department joined the Recreation Department Extended Day Program’s No School Extravaganza Day for “Spy Day” activities, which included showing the children how fingerprinting works and sharing lunch together.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.