The Manlius Village Board approved the emergency purchase of a new$318,046 fire engine to replace one that has a cracked chassis, or frame, at a special board meeting Wednesday night. Trustee Natalie Miner voted against the purchase. She said she’d like to see the board apply for a Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) grant for the new engine. The...
The Manlius Village Board approved the emergency purchase of a new$318,046 fire engine to replace one that has a cracked chassis, or frame, at a special board meeting Wednesday night.
Trustee Natalie Miner voted against the purchase. She said she’d like to see the board apply for a Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) grant for the new engine.
The emergency purchase allows the board to buy the engine without being required to advertise for and gather competitive bids.
The village did ask several other municipalities what bids they’d received for that piece of equipment.
The 22-year-old Engine No. 3 has been out of service since the crack was discovered about a month ago, according to Manlius Fire Chief Paul Whorrall. He has said the engine should have been replaced two years ago, according to the equipment replacement schedule submitted to the board. But the village had made other fire equipment purchases and wanted to wait.
Trustee Harold Hopkinson said the board probably should have applied for federal grant money two years ago, and can start the process now for the ladder truck it wants to buy. But he said it’s too late for this one; this truck has to be purchased right away.
The board began discussions on how to pay for the engine. It can bond for the engine, issue a bond anticipation note or use some surplus funds from the fire department/EMS budget. Trustees agree to continue discussions on this at a later date.
The new engine can be delivered in 90 days. There is one other engine and a ladder truck at Station One on Stickley Drive.