Acting On Study, Common Council

Votes To Buy $1.1 Million Fire Truck

ONEONTA –  On the recommendations of the Center for Public Safety’s 2014 study, Common Council Tuesday evening unanimously agreed to authorize the purchase of a brand new 100 Mid Mount Platform Fire Truck from Ferrara Fire Apparatus Inc in Louisiana to replace the failing 1987 ladder truck.

“This has been in the works for a long time,” said Council Member Larry Malone.  “We’ve managed to squirrel away $400,000, so we should be able to get it online in a timely manner.”

In addition to the budgeted amount, Assemblyman Bill McGee, D-Nelson, and state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, secured two $250,000 grants through DASNY’s State &d Municipal Facilities funding, meaning only $192,519 would come out of the city’s general fund towards the purchase of the $1.1 million dollar vehicle.”It’s a sigh of relief,” said OFD Chief Patrick Pidgeon.  “This one has a 2,000 gallon per minute pump with a hose and a ladder.  The 1987 truck has a ladder, but no pump.”

He expects the apparatus to arrive in the fall.

In addition, the study recommended replacing the ambulance, which council approved to go out to bid for.  The Dewar Foundation has offered funds to pay for that vehicle, City Manager Martin Murphy reported.  A replacement of the brush truck was also recommended, and Murphy says that will be looked at shortly.

The study also asked the fire department to put together a formal strategic plan for vehicle replacement.  “They’ve put most of it together, but it hasn’t been presented or accepted by council,” said Murphy.

The fire and EMS department is currently undergoing a comprehensive analysis by the Center for Public Safety Management, which will look at staffing and deployment, policy and union contracts.  “It’s soup to nuts,” said Murphy.  “This study will show us how to become a more efficient and effective department and help us justify decisions made in the future.  There’s a story in that data, and that story will guide us.”