Volunteer Fireman and Public Works Director James Phillips laid out a thorough and comprehensive in-depth presentation on the borough volunteer department’s present fire fighting apparatus, its age, life expectancy and needs to the Mayor and Council and the public at the council meeting Thursday night.
The presentation is near the beginning of the recording of the May11 council meeting on the borough’s official webpage, available under recordings at ahnj.com.
In a presentation that Phillips made in his dress firemen’s uniform, both on the wide screen he had earlier set up behind the council table on the dais, and in person, the firefighter first noted the number of volunteers, fire chief and former chiefs who were in the audience in support of the showing of their reasons why they are requesting action to consider a new fire truck. Phillips noted the department has been working on the specifications for many months, cited the number of fires calls the volunteers make in a year, together with all the other times they are called to assist with flooding, other hazards, traffic control and other areas where their assistance is requested. He noted the borough has always maintained a 4 rating, which is good he said for a small municipality, and identified each of the pieces of equipment that is used and for what emergencies.
Phillips also gave the age for each piece of equipment, and noted they range from 29 to 37 years; some were purchased used from other departments, and the borough’s ladder truck is the newest of all the equipment. However, he also pointed out that between ordering new equipment and having it delivered takes two to three years of building time, giving that as his reason for council to act soon on the request. The average age of the current department apparatus is 31 years.
The new equipment would be purchased by the borough rather than the fire department, he said, a change from the present ownership of the other equipment.
A new vehicle, properly maintained, could be in service for 30 years, he said as well as outlining all the study that has gone into the borough’s topography, new construction, water system, and other areas that impact the type of equipment that is best suited for the borough.
Acquisition of a municipally owned fire vehicle would also reduce insurance costs and would enhance the safety issues for firefighters, always an uppermost consideration.
The department has received quotes from 14 different manufacturers, he said, and has considered electric powered vehicles as well. However, the cost of electric vehicles the firemen deemed too expensive for the borough to purchase.
Phillips also used the opportunity to address the governing body and the public to express the need for more volunteer firemen and noted “it’s a lot of work” considering the numbers of drills, amount of training and volunteer workload, but urged all interested persons to contact him directly, or stop at the fire house, or contact any member.
The study done by the department also includes a variety of funding options he suggested to the governing body and said that if approved within a short time, delivery of a new vehicle would probably not happen until 2026.
The governing body congratulated and thanked Phillips for the comprehensive presentation and indicated it would consider the possibility of a purchase and have something to report on it at the next council meeting May 25.
