Clark council adopts $3.34 million bond ordinance to buy new ladder truck; residents question need
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Summary
The Township of Clark adopted Ordinance 25-12 to appropriate $3,340,000, including grant offsets, for a new fire truck. Officials said most of the cost is covered by a state grant; residents and one commenter asked whether the purchase is proportionate to the town's call volume and what will happen to the old truck.
The Township of Clark council on April 21 adopted Ordinance 25-12, a bond ordinance appropriating $3,340,000 for a new fire truck and related capital work. The ordinance passed by roll-call vote with all members voting yes.
The ordinance funds a new ladder apparatus and other improvements; Mayor Joseph Albanese and staff said the project is heavily subsidized by a state grant that will cover roughly three-quarters of the truck’s cost. Albanese told the council the grant covers 75 cents on the dollar and credited state leadership for securing the award.
Why it matters: Fire apparatus are specialized, have long lead times and must meet state manufacturing standards, officials said. Council and staff said replacing an aging ladder truck is necessary for department operations and regional mutual aid.
Resident Jeff Alexander, who identified himself as a Clark resident, questioned whether the expense matched local need. He said he compared Clark’s truck and staffing numbers with neighboring towns and told the council, “It seems disproportionate to the number of trucks we have, the number of firefighters we have, and I just questioned whether we actually need to spend this kind of money on another truck.”
Business Administrator James Ulrich answered that Clark’s fleet includes different vehicle types (ladder, pumper, quint, rescue) serving distinct functions and that the ladder truck is approaching 25 years of service. Ulrich said the department expects a lead time of roughly one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half years for delivery, and that the town will either auction the existing ladder truck or accept a trade-in credit at purchase.
Chief Sarasa and other staff were cited by Ulrich as sources for technical details; council members and the mayor emphasized the apparatus is intended to meet operational needs in Clark and to support mutual aid requests from neighboring towns.
The council adopted the ordinance by unanimous roll call. The mayor and administrative staff said grant funding and long lead times shaped the timing and structure of the purchase.
Looking ahead: Officials said delivery will take at least a year and a half; the council did not set an immediate implementation schedule beyond formal adoption and related procurement steps.
