By Jim McMahon
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania)
CRAFTON, Pa. — After several votes during the past two months, Crafton council approved the purchase of an aerial fire truck by a 6-3 vote.
The mayor, council Vice President Dan Cindric and members Tom Byers and Susan Viola, who all dissented, believe the fire department should not purchase the new truck, or at least wait several years until federal grant funding could be obtained.
Initially approved in September, council then approved the action by a 5-3 vote Oct. 8 as the borough solicitor recommended the purchase be done by a borough ordinance to bind future elected officials to the decision. Council President Jim Christman was absent for this vote. The final vote was Oct. 22.
The 100-foot ladder truck will replace a 28-year-old model that does not meet National Fire Protection Association standards. The purchase agreement provides that the volunteer fire department will pay $200,000 with the borough funding the remaining $540,000, beginning in 2011 with a 15-year loan from PNC Bank at a 3.89 percent interest rate.
The Oct. 22 vote overturned Mayor Susan O’Connell’s veto of the ordinance because of concerns over the adverse affect on the budget and its impact on taxpayers.
“I take this action very seriously. It’s something I haven’t done before in my tenure,” Mayor O’Connell said of her veto.
The mayor, along with the three dissenting council members, argued that the fire department could rely on neighboring fire companies in Ingram or Green Tree for its aerial fire fighting needs or the fire department could have its present 1980 truck refurbished at a considerably lower cost.
It was noted that federal grants could provide as much as 90 percent of the new purchase price. Fire company officials rejected these suggestions as unrealistic.
The mayor, who solicited input from residents through e-mail responses, said many supported her efforts.
One resident, Coletta Perry, spoke at the Oct. 22 meeting in support of the mayor’s arguments.
Noting that she had survived two fires in her life, had been affected by one fatal fire and had a brother who was a fireman in Cleveland, she said no one could be more supportive of the work done by local firefighters. “There are other ways to pay for the fire truck,” she said.
Former Councilwoman Nancy Koerbel criticized the veto and emphasized the new fire truck would benefit the community. “The parliamentary undercutting of this action is sad,” she said.
“It’s irresponsible for us not to pursue it now,” Councilman Bill Ogden said. He said delaying its purchase would jeopardize the safety of residents’ lives and properties and lead to higher costs. He doubted the ability of the borough to secure necessary grant funding.
“The truck will save money and lives both sooner and later for the borough,” he said.
Fire department president Mike Crown said council’s handling of the matter was unfortunate.
“In the history of the borough, the fire department has never met the resistance of several council members like it has now,” he said, adding he had been uncertain about how the final vote would turn out.
“I’m happy and relieved we can now proceed with the purchase,” he said. If all goes as planned, the new truck should be in service by next August, he said.
Commenting on the vote after the meeting, Mayor O’Connell said, “I wasn’t surprised, but I feel bad for the taxpayers of the borough.”
Copyright 2008 P.G. Publishing Co.