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Council signs off on new pumper and ambulance purchases for Fire Department
Summary
The Fire Department recommended awarding two bids — a 1,500‑gpm pumper to Greenwood Emergency Vehicles for $896,939 and a Type 1 ambulance to Northeast Rescue Vehicles for $386,545 — both to be funded from the city’s lease‑purchase account; councilors pressed on warranty terms, delivery timelines and fleet maintenance strategy.
The finance committee advanced awards for two major fire/EMS procurements on July 7 following presentations by Fire Chief Peter McMichael.
The department recommended Greenwood Emergency Vehicles (North Battleborough, MA) for a 1,500‑gpm pumper at a total package price of $896,939, including lights, sirens and lettering. Chief McMichael and councilors discussed warranty terms (general warranty cited as 1 year/24,000 miles, long‑term frame coverage and component guarantees) and the department’s emphasis on galvanized frame rails to avoid premature frame failure. Councilors pressed for monitoring of non‑emergency mileage because warranty mileage caps can shift repair costs to taxpayers.
The council also advanced a Type 1 ambulance award to Northeast Rescue Vehicles of Syracuse, NY, at $386,545. Department representatives said the ambulance was inspected as an identical, acceptable unit despite bid exceptions and offered a shorter delivery timeline (stock vehicle with a delivery estimate of ~279 days). Both purchases were described as lease‑purchase funded and the department noted the bids came in well below budget estimates in the capital plan.
Chief McMichael explained a two‑pronged fleet strategy to address multi‑year delivery delays in vehicle manufacture: stagger purchases of new apparatus while maintaining a reserve fleet (the department currently staffs nine pumpers and holds five reserve pumpers) acquired in part through used apparatus purchases and federal surplus. Councilors expressed support for continued procurement discipline, attention to warranties and standardization of equipment where it reduces lifecycle costs.
