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Rye Brook approves emergency repairs for Fire Engine 14 after vendor quotes limited; vehicle out of service since November
Summary
The board authorized emergency repairs to Fire Engine 14 by Hendrickson Truck Center in Islandia, N.Y., citing the truck’s failed certification tests and the lack of multiple qualified vendors; the purchase was approved under the village’s emergency procurement authority and is estimated around $30,000.
The Village of Rye Brook Board of Trustees approved an emergency repair purchase to return Fire Engine 14 to service after the apparatus failed required testing and has remained out of service.
Superintendent of Public Works Michael and Administrator Chris told the board Hendrickson Truck Center of Islandia, N.Y., was the only vendor able to respond and complete the work; the quote has been revised during negotiations and the superintendent reported a current expected cost in the neighborhood of $30,000. Because procurement policy ordinarily requires three written quotes for purchases between $5,000 and $35,000, staff requested emergency authorization under New York general municipal law to proceed with the single‑vendor repair to protect life, health and safety. The trustees approved the emergency repair by recorded vote with all present voting yes.
Staff said the vehicle was driven to the vendor in mid-November and was taken out of service after it failed required certification testing; Hendrickson provided the scope and cost to return the engine to service. Public discussion noted fire trucks are specialized and few shops can both repair and certify them for return to service. The board heard the engine is used for vehicle-accident and EMS-related responses and that it is more than 20 years old; the truck is also one of the apparatuses the village is evaluating for replacement or major rebuild in a separate capital decision process.
The resolution authorized the emergency repair purchase and directed staff to proceed. Trustees discussed the difficulty of finding vendors who can perform specialty fire apparatus work and noted the village continues to evaluate replacement options for older vehicles.
