Peekskill fire chief seeks authorization for new engine amid 35% price rise; accepts grant for battery equipment

The Fire Chief told the council that apparatus prices and lead times have increased substantially since 2022, reporting a proposed purchase price of $1,429,953 for a new engine—about a 35.8% price increase over the truck ordered three years earlier—and warned delivery could be well into 2028–2029. He recommended proceeding with purchase under an HGAC piggyback contract allowed by New York State piggyback law to lock in current pricing.

"Dollars 1,429,953," the chief said when presenting the proposed price, and he explained that once a contract is executed the price is locked, although change orders can increase the total later. The chief also asked the council to accept a DASNY grant for roughly $52,236 to buy battery-operated equipment as part of a transition away from combustion-powered generators, and to approve the Volunteer Firefighter Length of Service Awards submission for 2024 for posting and member review. Finally, he proposed declaring a 2017 Chevy Tahoe surplus and donating it to the Cortland–Peekskill Regional Paramedic Program; staff told council they have cleared the donation with legal.

Council members expressed concern about supply-chain uncertainty and asked staff to avoid change orders; several members supported moving ahead to lock-in a price because waiting could raise costs further. The council indicated general support for accepting the grant and processing the awards and the vehicle donation, subject to standard resolutions and legal clearances.