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Committee refers $1.3 million fire engine purchase to board of estimate
Summary
A Middletown committee voted to send a proposal to buy a new fire engine for the Ontario Hose Company to the board of estimate after officials outlined a roughly $1,299,302 purchase price, a roughly 3½-year build time and vendor service concerns.
A municipal committee in Middletown voted to send to the board of estimate a proposal to buy a new fire engine for the Ontario Hose Company after officials described an estimated price of $1,299,302 and a build time of about three and a half years.
The fire department representative told the committee the department is seeking to replace a 2006 KME currently in service. "It's coming up on...20 years this year," the representative said, and added that a three-and-a-half-year build would push the new engine into service when the vehicle is roughly 28 to 29 years old, increasing maintenance needs.
Committee members were told Jacob Tiel reviewed and approved the engine specifications and that city attorney Alex Smith reviewed the contract. The representative said the purchase would use a state contract and that payment terms are roughly "95% on delivery" with the remaining 5% due after the engine goes into service. "The proposal that Pierce sent us was 1.299302," the representative said.
Members discussed vendor and service differences. The representative warned that consolidation in the industry has left a few manufacturers as the primary providers and raised concerns about repair turnaround: "they tell us two days and it turns out to be three, four weeks that an apparatus is out of service," the representative said, noting that Pierce offers a road-service unit that can respond to the firehouse for repairs.
The committee also discussed options for the existing vehicle, including resale or donation. The department said two older engines had been donated previously and that resale value for retired apparatus is uncertain.
Vice Chair Massie moved to send the engine purchase proposal to the board of estimate for review; the committee voiced assent and advanced the referral. No further business was raised and the meeting adjourned.
The board of estimate is the next step; the committee did not set a date for board consideration during the meeting.
