Jamestown council clears finance resolutions including $85K EMS equipment purchase and police vehicle

The Jamestown City Council’s work session on (date not specified) moved forward six finance resolutions that the full council authorized for formal consideration, including a state grant application and several equipment purchases.

A finance committee representative (S7) said the city is eligible to apply for a New York State water pump revitalization program that offers statewide funding and could support portions of the city’s basin work. “The mayor is authorized to sign any documents related to the submission of the application,” the finance representative reported, describing the item as a required authorization to proceed with the grant application.

The committee also approved a one-year grant research and management software subscription, described as a shared purchase across departments and the BPU, with the city’s portion roughly $1,500 of the $2,175 annual cost. The finance representative said the software had “paid for itself with the first grama,” citing use by the shared grant writer.

Committee members approved general-fund budget adjustments that reallocated funds across DPW, police, fire, corporation counsel and the mayor’s office to account for prior spending patterns. The committee additionally authorized a purchase agreement for a 2027 Dodge Durango for the Jamestown Police Department at $48,893.46, to be paid from 2026 budgeted funds.

On equipment for the fire and EMS squads, the committee passed a resolution authorizing the mayor and acting fire chief to enter an agreement with Striker Medical to buy one LifePak 15 cardiac monitor/defibrillator and one Lucas automated chest-compression system, plus associated equipment, for an amount not to exceed $85,262.02. The finance member said that purchase will be funded through 2024 SAMHSA grant year 2 funds.

Fire chief Brian (S8) explained the devices to council members: “The LifePak 15 is a cardiac monitor and defibrillator. It’s a lot bigger, more complex than a standard AED…With that, we’ll be able to transmit EKGs to the hospital,” and that the Lucas device is “an automatic chest compression machine…It’s continuous. There’s no breaks.” He added that the equipment will outfit the department’s ambulances to the same standard as other units.

One finance resolution—an agreement with Lexapro for EMS and fire training modules not to exceed $7,433.50 and also funded by the SAMHSA grant—was discussed but not voted on in committee. Members noted prior training relationships with UPMC and described current in-house training practices; the committee deferred the purchase decision.

The finance committee summary was reported to the full council; the meeting packet indicated staff will proceed with grant submission tasks and procurement according to council and grant rules. The session concluded with the announcement of two executive-session matters—one contractual and one personnel—where no action will be taken.

Next steps: the resolutions discussed in committee were forwarded to the council for formal votes as part of the regular agenda.