Public safety committee forwards $16,136.55 state grant for replacement fire hose and nozzles to full council

The Allentown City Public Safety Committee voted to forward to the full council a supplemental appropriation of $16,136.55 from a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of State Fire Commissioner grant to the fire department to buy replacement 1‑3/4‑inch fire attack hose and nozzles.

Deputy Chief Hayhert, representing the fire department, told the committee the funding will help replace aging equipment and said the department had requested a larger amount. "We asked for 30,000 or 25,000, I think, and we got 16. So we'll take it," Hayhert said, adding that some nozzles "are from the nineties that aren't functioning well." Hayhert described one nozzle costing "up to, like, $1,800" and a 75‑foot hose section costing "roughly 900." A committee member said the department has "like, 70" nozzles.

A committee member moved and another seconded to advance the measure; the committee voiced approval and the bill will be forwarded "favorably to council of the whole." The transcript records a voice affirmative but does not include a roll‑call tally or individual vote names. The appropriation is tied to a grant from the Commonwealth Pennsylvania Office of State Fire Commissioner; the committee did not adopt additional conditions in committee.

The committee also heard a brief announcement that a cancer‑screening press conference will be held at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Allentown Fire Academy, in coordination with Gallery, Lehigh Valley Health Network and Jefferson Health; a committee member apologized for not sharing the notice with council members sooner. The appropriation will be considered next by the full council.