NORTH SMITHFIELD – North Smithfield Fireplace & Rescue Service is on observe to switch an getting old rescue car with a brand new truck, however Chief David Chartier stated the ultimate price and timeline for supply stay unclear.
Chartier requested approval from the City Council for the acquisition of a brand new rescue Monday night time from vendor Specialty Automobiles Inc. for $449,822. The car will substitute a Ford F-550 Life Line bought in 2018.
“We have now labored intently with our vendor on specs to fulfill the division’s wants,” notes a memo on the deliberate expense.
“That is consistent with our car alternative schedule, however we’re going to type of be thrown off of that schedule as a result of simply the manufacturing timeline for this truck is 2 to 2 and a half years,” stated Chartier. “That’s one of many causes we needed to attempt to get approval as quickly as attainable – that and potential impending tariffs and whatnot.”
The chief stated there are contingencies constructed into the pricing as the seller was unable to pinpoint an actual price with the present wait time for elements.
“Manufacturing costs may change, so it’s slightly little bit of a transferring goal,” he stated.
The truck will make the most of funds in a capital account taken in by way of the fireplace division’s third get together billing. Finance Director Antony St. Onge famous the council has put aside cash yearly, and the account at present has $600,000.
The system of using funds taken in by the fireplace and rescue service to switch tools in accordance with a deliberate schedule has labored efficiently for years, however City Supervisor Scott Gibbs famous that its days could also be numbered. An engine will even want alternative within the “not too distant” future, Gibbs stated. At present, Chartier stated the price of such an engine is $1 million – and anticipated to climb.
“Clearly, the price of this tools turns into staggering,” stated Gibbs. “We have now to start out considering now about how we’re going to anticipate that, as a result of prices will not be going to return down.”
The administrator stated he’s working with the Asset Administration Committee on projections, which he plans to current to the council earlier than upcoming funds deliberations.
“I believe what we’re going to seek out primarily based on the anticipated life cycles of this piece of kit – the present strategy of our third get together billing between the city and the fireplace division – it’s not going to work,” stated Gibbs. “We’re going to expire of cash.”
Chartier stated he plans to return again earlier than the council for approval of $42,000 in tools associated to the acquisition, together with a two-way radio and a stretcher. He stated he thought of buying the tools now, however is worried the warranties may expire by the point the truck really arrived. The outdated rescue, he stated, shall be stored as a spare, whereas the present spare is traded in for $10,000.
“It is going to be spare car for us ought to one thing break down,” Chartier stated.
He added that the division remains to be producing cash for the upcoming bills, saying of the prices, “Hopefully, it goes down.”
