Council approves emergency resolution to apply for grant to buy cardiac monitor/defibrillator

Salem City Council on March 4 voted to approve Resolution 14, which authorizes the fire chief to apply for a grant from the Salem Community Foundation for $54,729 to buy a Lifepak 35 cardiac monitor/defibrillator and declared the measure an emergency.

Fire Chief Mason told council the grant request was prompted by a University Hospital and county fire chiefs’ bulk purchase opportunity that could save the city about $6,000 if several departments order together. "It would only save us probably approximately $6,000 by doing this partnership but it is a cost savings," Mason said. He added the department’s older Lifepak 12 unit is approaching the end of serviceability and parts and batteries are becoming unavailable.

After discussion about whether other funding sources had been exhausted, Mason said he had not yet pursued all grant avenues because the request was put together quickly after the bulk‑order opportunity arose. Councilmembers suggested pursuing additional grant sources if the Salem Community Foundation request is not funded. The clerk read the resolution by title and councilmembers registered affirmative votes; the presiding officer announced, "Resolution 14 has passed."

The resolution authorizes the fire chief to apply for the specified grant; council did not appropriate funds or finalize purchase terms at the meeting. Council agenda and minutes indicate that, if awarded, the grant would fund purchase of the Lifepak 35 and the department planned to place the new monitor on the primary transport ambulance and reallocate the existing Lifepak 15 to another unit.