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Franklin approves replacement breathing apparatus for firefighters under joint grant
Summary
Council unanimously approved a contract award to replace aging self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) as part of a multi-jurisdiction Assistance to Firefighters Grant; the city will supply certain non-grant items and invoice partner jurisdictions for their 10% local share.
Franklin City Council on Aug. 3 unanimously approved RESOLUTION 2020-39 to award a contract for replacement self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for a joint grant project with Franklin Township and the Village of Carlisle. The City of Franklin is the grant manager and will invoice partner jurisdictions for their share.
Chief Jonathan Westendorf, Fire and EMS Chief, told council the Assistance to Firefighters Grant was awarded but did not fund telemetry — the remote-monitoring portion of the system. Westendorf said the telemetry would have allowed supervisors to monitor air remaining in SCBA bottles and notify firefighters remotely, but the technology was not funded and will be purchased as a non-grant item only if budgeted.
Westendorf explained the purchase will nonetheless include non-grant additional items: mask-adapter kits that let SCBA masks function as respirators without consuming a full SCBA unit. He said those kits are approved for virus environments and were selected in part because a city order for N95 masks placed at the start of the pandemic has not yet been fulfilled. He also said the SCBA units currently in service will expire at the end of the year, creating an operational need for replacement. Chief Westendorf told council the department expects shipment before year end.
Vice Mayor Todd Hall moved to adopt the resolution; Council Member Mathew Wilcher seconded. The council vote was recorded as seven yes votes (Hall, Brent Centers, Michael Aldridge, Debbie Fouts, Mathew Wilcher, Denny Centers, Paul Ruppert); the motion passed. The city will manage procurement and billing to partner jurisdictions; the contract award was made to Vogelpohl Fire Equipment as presented to council.
Why it matters: Replacing expiring breathing apparatuses is an immediate public-safety priority for the Franklin Fire Department. The funding structure — a federal grant supplemented by a 10% local share from each participating jurisdiction — spreads cost but requires Franklin to act as grant manager and to cover any non-grant items necessary for responder safety.
Next steps: Staff will finalize procurement and coordinate invoicing with Franklin Township and the Village of Carlisle. Delivery and in-service dates are expected before the end of the year.
