Council Skeptical on Purchase of New Fire Truck

The head of the Ridgewood Fire Department is continuing his push to acquire a new ladder truck, but the council remains skeptical it's a sound financial investment.

Fire Chief Jim Van Goor appeared Wednesday night to stump for the approximately $1.4 million ladder truck. The council previously allocated capital funds – about half of which have been funnelled annually since 2006 when the department originally expected a new truck – to the process and is still awaiting bids.

It could take a year for a truck to arrive once it's ordered.

"We've received a lot of comments by the public about the necessity of this truck," said Mayor Keith Killion.

Some have suggested entering into shared services agreements or refurbishing the existing truck. Van Goor, speaking to the first option, said Glen Rock and Ho-Ho-Kus already have ladder trucks that do not need replacement, so they have no interest.

The fire chief said refurbishing a new truck would cost between $500,000 and $700,000 and it wouldn't meet accepted standards.

"If we wanted to refurbish the truck, we should have done it five or six years ago," Van Goor said, pointing to the safety standard notes.

The mayor and council had further questions when they discovered under the plan they'd be keeping the existing ladder truck as well for "at least another four years," according to Van Goor.

"By the time we get the new one, the old one will be 21 years old," Van Goor said. "We'll keep it for another four years so it's 25, depending on maintenance issues."

What the fire department does plan to do, Van Goor said, is get rid of the 1982 Mack Pumper – Engine 37. Asked why the Mack Pumper would be let go and not the ladder truck, Van Goor said the engine retains more trade-in value. The ladder truck would only fetch between $5,000 and $10,000, he said.
 
"Are you going to hit us up for another truck?" the mayor asked. "Well, I am because we have to keep replacing them," Van Goor said in response. The fire chief said it comes down to maintenance issues, ease of purchasing parts.

Pressed by Councilman Paul Aronsohn, Van Goor said if it breaks the village would be without a ladder truck and it would be a truckload of money.

"We're being proactive," Van Goor said. "We have a schedule to replace a fire apparatus before it breaks, before it gets to a point where the maintenance costs make it not worth keeping."

The mayor said by purchasing a new truck and still keeping the existing ladder truck, maintenance costs would still remain.

"If you want to get rid of it, it's like buying a new car and keeping your old jalopy," Killion said. "There's no reason to it because you're throwing more money away."

The council requested Van Goor provide the trade-in values of both vehicles as it continues to review the purchase.