Washington Twp. fire officials push for new
truck
Published in the Times on Thursday, May 15, 2003
By ANDREW KITCHENMAN
http://www.nj.com
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP (MERCER)—The
township needs a new $400,000 fire truck, which residents may vote on in a
special election later this year, township fire commissioners said at a meeting
last night.
Fire district officials said they haven't formally requested money for the truck
from the township committee.
District officials plan to send a letter to the township committee emphasizing
the need for the truck. No decision about the election will be made until the
township committee is consulted, commissioners said.
Chairman Kenneth C. Crosley said it was premature to set a special election,
when the commissioners haven't met with the committee. He said the commissioners
aim to improve communication with the committee.
Commissioners said a special election could be called for August or September.
The engine, a rescue pumper, would serve as the township's main truck, Deputy
Chief Kevin Brink said. The current main pumper was purchased in 1996 and has
required more than $6,000 in repairs since January, Commissioner Nathaniel
Bouchelle said.
The needs of the township were different when the current main pumper was
ordered, Brink said.
It carries 1,500 gallons of water because much of the township didn't have fire
hydrants then. Now that there are more hydrants, the district needs a truck to
carry only 750 gallons, and the extra space would be used for more equipment,
according to Brink.
"Our compartment space no longer can handle all this equipment," Brink said.
He said the district has added emergency medical service equipment and equipment
to remove people trapped in vehicles.
Brink said he met with Township Administrator John M. West about the truck. West
said district officials should send a letter to committee members stating the
need for the truck.
Brink said the township should explore requiring developers to contribute to the
cost of the fire truck.
While trucks average roughly $400,000, the annual cost could be reduced under a
lease-purchase agreement, Brink said.
Under a 10-year lease, the annual cost would be $49,000 to $55,000, while the
annual cost would be $86,000 to $96,000 under a five-year lease, according to
rough estimates provided by Brink. The estimates depend on interest rates.
In other business, the commissioners said they would follow the township
committee's budget recommendations. When the committee voted March 13 to keep
the fire district tax at 23 cents, they recommended that the district hire two
firefighters in September and cut the commissioners' salaries in half.
On Feb. 22, township residents rejected a 3-cent increase in the fire district
tax by a vote of 388 to 205.
Commissioner Deborah Matson said the commissioners could realign the budget in
November, once the commissioners know what this year's expenses have been.