MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY & VEHICLE REPLACEMENT ADVISORY BOARD
November 10, 2014
A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING of the Board of Public Safety and the Vehicle Replacement Advisory Board was held in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, November 10, 2014.
Those in attendance included Mayor Elinor Carbone, Board of Public Safety Commissioners Douglas Benedetto, Richard Zaharek, Glenn McLeod and Angelo LaMonica, Vehicle Replacement Advisory Board Members Glenn Royals, City Council Representative Anne Ruwet, Board of Finance Representative Bill Lamoin, Comptroller Alice Proulx and Fleet Manager Emil Castro. Robert Conforti was present and serves on both Boards. Fire Chief Gary Brunoli and Deputy Fire Chief Christopher Pepler were also present. Commissioner Darlene Battle was absent.
Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.
FIRE DEPARTMENT LADDER TRUCK
Mr. Castro said he contacted Five-Star Fire. The repairs would take 45 business days to complete and cost between $13,500 and $50,000, not including what could be found once everything is taken apart. Regarding certification, Mr. Castro said both a pump test and an aerial test are performed. Chief Brunoli explained that the truck receives a D.O.T. maintenance inspection by the Street Department every year, as well as annual ladder certification and a five-year non-destructible test.
Mr. Royals questioned how this was missed in the last annual inspection, noted that frame replacement is being done more frequently, and said he wants to see two estimates on the truck. Considering the money invested in this vehicle, he said the repair costs are not equal to the total value of the truck. Chief Brunoli said he must abide by multiple standards, and this purchase will help the Vehicle Replacement fund balance.
Mr. Lamoin explained why he thinks the truck should be repaired. He said that keeping employee safety in mind along with service to the taxpayers and financial prudence, the cost of the repair is 5% to 7% of the total cost of the vehicle. He said replacement should not be considered unless satisfactory repairs are impossible or if repair costs are over 30% of replacement costs. He urged the Boards to stick to the facts and not worry about the repair being structurally safe, noting that repair shops have experience in this type of repair and are paid to properly inspect their work. Mr. Lamoin added that advancing this purchase two fiscal years would leave the fund with a deficit of almost $200,000 next year. He said the money for that truck is not there now.
Ms. Proulx provided a cash flow analysis of what the impact would be on the Vehicle Replacement Account to purchase this truck in FY16/17 or this year. She explained that the fund is expected to have a $506,000 cash deficit at the end of June 30, 2018, but the funding levels are reviewed and restructured every year. Ms. Proulx said that with the proposed $688,000 purchase of a ladder truck, the fund would have a $137,000 fund balance at the end of June 30, 2018. She concluded that by purchasing this vehicle now and not purchasing it in FY16/17 at the $1,300,000 price, the City will end up with a $600,000 difference in our fund balance at the end of June 30, 2018.
Councilor Ruwet noted that the cost analysis assumes the truck will cost $1,300,000 in FY16/17, which might not be the case.
Mr. Castro said both the Poly-slides on the ladder and the brakes need to be replaced, without a guarantee of what further maintenance might be needed. He said $222,664 has been spent on the vehicle year to date and it has 517,000 miles or 8,450 hours. He said that although $35,000 is not unreasonable to make a vehicle last another two years, he is worried about the integrity of the ladder truck in spite of inspections and certifications to eliminate the City’s liability. Mr. Castro recommended a cap on repair expenditures because that money will never be recouped when the truck is decommissioned.
Commissioner McLeod said he would not spend 20% more on a vehicle in two years, he would buy it now.
Commissioner Benedetto said we have to draw the line somewhere, after spending 52 million dollars on the sewer plant and paving the Fire Department at $100,000.
Mr. Royals said truck prices are forced to go down as many cities are on the verge of bankruptcy. He said that safety is still the main factor, and once this truck is repaired, it will be just as safe as buying a brand new one.
VEHICLE REPL. ADV. BRD. Motion to Repair Ladder Truck, Denied
On a motion by Mr. Royals, seconded by Mr. Lamoin, the Vehicle Replacement Advisory Board voted 3/3 with Commissioner Conforti, Ms. Proulx and Mr. Castro opposed, to recommend to the Board of Public Safety that the ladder truck be repaired after first obtaining a second and more definite repair cost estimate. Mayor Carbone broke the tie with an opposing vote saying she agrees with Mr. Castro’s concern that there is no guarantee this vehicle will last another two years.
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY Motion to Table, Approved
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board of Public Safety voted 3/2 with Commissioners McLeod and Conforti opposed, to table the repair or replacement of a Fire Department Ladder Truck until a second estimate can be obtained.
ADJOURNMENT
The joint meeting was adjourned at 6:38 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Carol L. Anderson, CMC
Assistant City Clerk
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