Hopefully it's short. She said she meeting is called to order in accordance with the open public meetings law in accordance with chapter 231 of public laws 1975. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided. This meeting of July 7th, 2025 was published in the
Courier News Installar ledger and placed on the burrow's website and Bolton board at Burough Hall. A copy of this notice is available to the public and a copy of this statement shall be included in the minutes of this meeting. Mayor Brian Gallagher here. Council members Theresa Bonner here. Andrew Ki here.
Glenda here. Randy Pitts here. Gina Stravik here. Roger Verm here. All right. Please stand for the salute and please remain standing afterwards. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it
stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And I just want to ask for a moment of silence for the uh the tragedy that's unfolded in Texas uh over the past few days. Uh our hearts reach out to those
families affected. Thank you. Okay. Motion for approval of the minutes of June 16th, 2025. So moved. Second. Discussion. Roll call. Council members Terresa Bonner. Yes. Andrew Ki. Yes. Glenda. Yes. Randy Pitts.
Yes. Gina Stravik. Yes. Ver. Yes. All right. Departmental reports and notices. We have none. Committee reports. Uh Mr. Ki. Nothing to report this time. Okay. Gina. Uh Somerville Rescue Squad reports 109 dispatches. Uh 60 calls uh for uh
emergency services and about 25 fire calls and the balance was of RMAs. So uh refused medical assistance. Uh board of health did not meet this month or last month. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Denique. Uh, all I have is Environmental Commission will
meet here tomorrow at 7 PM and I'll have an update next time. Okay, Miss Bar. Uh, I just have a short update about the Somerville Public Library. Um, you may have noticed that some of the or all of the events from last week and over the
weekend were cancelled or rescheduled and that will go through this Wednesday, um, the 9th. um they're doing some maintenance at the at the library. Um but then on July 11th um there will be
um you'll have the ability to explore Somerville Somerville's local history collection it uh during open archives at 3 PM in the young adult room. So you can explore Somerville's history with the help of somebody who works at the library. That's it.
Okay. Thank you, Randy. I have no reports at this time here. And Roger. Okay, two announcements from the wreck uh commission. Both pools are now open daily from noon to 6 pm, weather permitting. Registration is required. Um but it is free for all
residents. You can head to the recreation page on our website. Uh and the fall soccer league registration is open now for students entering grades one through eight. The deadline to register for uh the soccer league is August 3rd and again that is on the U
recreation website. Okay. All right. Excellent. Uh, next up we have a discussion on the ladder truck purchase and the sale of the existing equipment. Um, I understand we may be pushing that to the next meeting for the bulk of the discussion, but if Roger, if you want to just kind of give everybody a heads up.
Certainly. So, um, the the board of engineers have been discussing um getting selling one of our engines, which would be engine 4, uh, to purchase a quint. A quint is a ladder and pump.
So, uh, right now you have an engine and you have a truck. This would be the complement of both of those. It's a 75 foot ladder. Um, which would have a uh which would be a firstdue piece of apparatus because it can do both aerial
work and pump work as necessary. Um the thought process is with the number of multi-story dwellings that we have now in the burrow that this would be a complimentary piece uh as again it would have a a tank on it would be able to pump but it would also be able to have
that aerial ladder. Uh we do have our seaggrave um our tiller ladder but in short order that is expected to go out for uh resurf re um depending upon how we do what we need to do and depending
upon what the fire department feels best um possibly uh just redoing the the uh apparatus and getting it back into service. Um so having a second ladder in the burrow uh albeit not as tall as the
seagrave um would be an a welcomed addition to the fleet of vehicles. Uh so it would be getting rid of one piece and adding a second or adding a second ladder uh to the fleet of vehicles that can also serve as a pump.
Okay. So that's kind of the overview just to kind of get council centered on thinking about this a little bit. Lots of lots more to come. Um, obviously finances being one of them. Um, I think, you know, there's always been for at least as long as I've been involved there, uh, and Rich, you may you could
probably bear this out. Um, every piece of apparatus has been on a 20-year cycle. Uh, that's kind of the average of uh, of the life of a piece of equipment. Um, and that was it was very company specific that uh, that piece of equipment. And if I'm not mistaken, I
think what what the department is beginning to look at now is department specific in reaction to what's happening in town. And uh and I guess that's kind of like the overarcher of the discussion. Yes. So the department has been working u they had multiple Sundays uh over the
past few months to crossrain drivers so that everyone is capable that is currently a driver um to be able to operate all pieces of apparatus. That's the end goal. um at least you know through the department is to make sure that if an engine is down and you're say
you're a driver of engine three and engine three is nonoperational but you're the only driver that may show up and you have to take engine one that you're capable of pumping and functioning engine one um or be at engine four right now because we've got engine one, engine three, and engine
four. Engine two is the old one that was just replaced by our new engine. Uh so the goal is to have our drivers cross-trained so that they are capable to uh to operate all pieces of apparatus and come to a more centralized concept
that everyone is capable of doing that. Okay. All right. So I think our chiefs are going to be here at the next meeting and uh we can have some some more in-depth discussion on that. So thank you. Thanks for bringing it up. Um at this point I'll ask for a motion to open the meeting to the public.
So moved. Second. Discussion. Roll call. Council members Theresa Bonner. Yes. Andrew Ki. Yes. Glen Deny. Yes. Randy Pittz. Yes. Gina Stravik. Yes. Roger Verm. Yes. Public portion is now open. Please state your name and address for the record and
please address your comments to me. Mr. Mvi. Yes, sir. Frank Mvi, 129 Bartine Street in Somerville. Here. Uh, I realize this is a summer meeting and I'm not going to say anything controversial.
I've been told that I keep it easy. I just have a few comments that maybe you could ponder over time. Uh, the main comment is, are we doing any future planning?
For example, the burrow hall, uh, it's not handicapped accessible. It's well probably 95% of the people that come through Burrow Hall are there on business and it's a beautiful
building. I'm not saying get rid of it. I'm just saying that it, you know, it the money that we spend on it, perhaps we could get someone else to bear that burden and look elsewhere for a burrow hall that's more functional.
That's one item. uh the Burough Barn. It's been almost four years since uh tropical storm Ida. What has been done? Are there any plans for the future or you know I haven't
heard anything at the time it was all hell broke loose because there was no everybody denied any type of responsibility and somebody's responsible
and if you're if you made a mistake I understand it but don't deny it. Um, let's see here. Organizational charts on the burrow. I haven't really seen an organizational
chart that tells me who is in charge of what exactly what their responsibilities are from day to day. Is there a line of secession? In other words, god forbid if Kevin something happened where he got a
great job offer with somebody else or whatever. If he left us tomorrow, who's going to step in that knows what you do? Because I know you do a hell of a lot, but you know, maybe there's too many hats on one head. That's been a problem
over time where people, oh, they wear all these hats, but you can't have all the hats and in an emergency you can't do everything. You have to be able to have people that are delegated that know what to do.
Um, another little item that I have, I hope that somebody is looking at the fire department as far as staffing goes. You can put your head in the sand and say it's not a problem, but I see it
every day. I still come around. I don't ride the apparatus anymore, but the apparatus during the daytime. Oh, we got a great turnout. Look at all these people. You know how old they are?
I wouldn't want those guys. Well, I wouldn't want them dropping dead on me. They're probably 60 and above. We've got to come up with a plan to get more volunteers.
maybe team up with Ryan. I'm not I don't know the answers, but somebody's got to look into this and try to figure it out because someday we're going to get caught short. And if we don't look into it, oh well, eggs on us,
that's all. Happy summer. Thank you, Frank. Thank you. Yeah. Any other public comment? terrible public speak. Just your name and address for the record. Uh Kevin O'Neal, 79 Eastern States Parkway. I wrote it down. Might be
easier for me. Uh first, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for letting me join the fire department. I just graduated firefighter one from the Somerset Academy. I'm honored to be able to serve my community. I have a couple issues I would like to discuss. I will
do my best to keep them brief, which they will be. The sidewalks that were installed uh by the water company in front of my house, they're deteriorating and falling apart. Um when I cut my grass, all of it's just
getting thrown against uh my house. Was it just flaking up? Is that Yeah, it's all flaking up. I talked to Rodney about it and he said it's from the salt, but this started way before that. and it's throughout eastern states. It's just not my corner.
There's a pothole on Van Beern right next to my house by my driveway. Um, it's been like that since I bought my house in 2019, but I'm told by my neighbors it's been like that longer. Nobody has dug it up. They fill it in eventually. the rocks uh they used to
fill it in, break away, and when cars run them over, they hit my vehicle, even if they're in the driveway. The pothole looks like it's caused by an underground leak from a water pipe. Uh it's always filled with water. Uh even when it's not
raining, but I'm not a water guy. It's just what it looks like. Uh as far as a firehouse is concerned, I just have two little things I'd like to bring up. I'd like to know why uh at the firehouse we can't have a grill. Um I'm
an elevator mechanic by trade. I deal with a lot of public service buildings. I'm involved with state inspections, internal audits, and turnovers to the municipalities. I know firsthand at these firehouses and police stations, there are grills specifically for
camaraderie amongst the firemen and police officers. I believe you are putting I believe that if you're putting your life in someone's hands, you should know who they are on a personal level as well as a professional level.
There's also other activities at these other places to promote uh camaraderie against you know with the other people. Uh, I've also noticed that the parking situation with the ESF building is not
does not accommodate uh volunteer first responders. When seconds can mean life or death, I believe it is in the public's best interest to have first responders be able to respond to their apparatus as fast as possible. The suggestion that I have is that there is
a bus stop in front of the ESF building that can be moved across the street. Uh the front of the building can be used for first responders and could be a no parking zone the rest of the time. At the West End building, we were allowed to park in no parking
until we were back from a call. I'm wondering if that can be done at the new building as well. I believe that is in the best interest of the public if better accommodations were made so that first responders are able to park as close as possible to get to the building
in order to suit up and get into the apparatus as fast as possible. Um, the other thing that I noticed being on the fire department is that uh some of our elevators lack a lot of inspections.
Stuff is dilapidated. I talked to the head of the state. They have a problem with uh hiring people, keeping people. So, uh that's a huge issue for them. Are you saying municipal elevators or are you saying private? everything in
town. Well, the only elevator we have is a brand new one. No, but in the town, they all have to be inspected by the So, those are private elevators. Any elevator in the in the town. Yes. Whether it's public,
uh, municipal, county, or private, they need to be inspected yearly and five years, uh, full load test and all that stuff. But that's, uh, you know, it's not getting done. And there's some safety concerns that I see that I brought up to them. They've asked me to
take pictures and they send them send a uh an inspector back to write the violation up. But they're so short-handed. I don't know if there's something where the bro might consider hiring somebody part-time or getting a third party inspection company to come
in and that's usually offset by the private uh buildings uh to pay for their annual inspections. This also covers uh when we have a private uh inspection company, they do all the plan
reviews. I think on the state level, uh I've seen a lot of plans just get pushed through and it's uh you know, it's they're not up to code like the one at the the um firehouse. The disconnect room was supposed to be accessible to the fire department, but
it's on the police side that's locked up all the time. So is a controller. So, if there's a problem there, I don't know how we're going to get to it. I mean, I'm certain maybe there's Knoxbox keys that we can get into it, but um
by code, they're supposed to be in a public access. Uh that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you. Any other public comment? All right. Hearing none, I'll ask for a motion to close. So moved. Second. Discussion. Roll call.
Council members Theresa Bonner. Yes. Yes. Andrew Kiy, yes. Glendon A, yes. Randy Pitts, yes. Gina Stra, yes. Roger Ferm, yes. All right. So, uh, bunch of different items. So, Frank, first, uh, for those that don't know, Frank Malevy
ran our emergency management office for how many years, Frank? 15 years. Uh, and did a fantastic job. Um, so when Frank speaks, we listen. It's, uh, so a few things. Um, in terms
of uh of future planning in Burrow Hall, um, and the Burrow Barn, um, we've had some discussions about the Burrow Barn. Kevin and I have chatted about, um, you know, some possible relocation of some equipment. Some equipment has been relocated. Um, the the offseason
equipment, we actually already have that out of there. Uh, so that we don't have to go through that process. Uh what I can also tell you is whenever it gets foggy, I'm on the phone with OEM making sure that uh public works is aware that uh you know there's a threat of rain. Uh
we monitor we were on the phone this morning talking about it as well. Um so so we're monitoring and we're trying to figure out that best scenario. As you know, land in Somerville is uh is not that prevalent, open land. So, but
there are some opportunities that, you know, we've had some soft discussions over the last year or two with uh with some folks. Uh it's it's not over yet. It's not done. So, um Burough Hall is a bigger issue. Uh you know, we just got into the uh into
the new emergency services complex, so we're kind of still feeling our way there. Uh PD should hopefully be over there very soon as well. Uh and then once that is done, then we can start to look at uh at the future. Whether Burough Hall is included in that discussion or not, I I couldn't tell you
that, Frank. Right now, um it it is it's a beautiful building. It's a signature building for Somerville. Is it going to go somewhere? Uh during my tenure, probably not. Um but uh you know, somebody else's tenure, it may. I don't I just I can't answer that for you. Um
org charts, we do have org charts. Uh and we're actually currently in discussion now about um you know repositioning some things uh to to address what exactly what you're talking about to ensure that there's coverage so that it doesn't fall on the shoulders of
all of one person. Um because that that is um it's a challenge and as you know we run on a shoestring budget. you know, everybody up here, you know, for for decades have been uh whittling the pencil and uh um we do a whole lot with
a whole little and uh and and we continue to do it that way. It's just the nature of this municipality. Um big difference with the emergency services complex. That's the first foray into something a little bit larger. Um and then FD staffing, it's something
that uh that the chiefs uh will monitor. Uh that's uh you know we've had some discussions about how you supplement and uh and increase the roles of volunteerism uh both there and in the squad as well because I think they're synonymous and it's trying to encourage
people who you know either have lived in town for a long time or or new residents in town and and getting them to understand it's it's kind of nice to help your neighbor. Um and uh and you know as you know it does go in es and flows. you know, the squad's seeing a
big influx right now, whereas they for the past few years they had a a drain and now all of a sudden they have they have an influx of folks, which is great. So, it it is kind of an eb and flow. Um, so Mr. O'Neal, uh, a few things. One,
um, let's get Kevin, if we can get, uh, Rodney out there to take a look at the sidewalks. I know what he's talking about because that is an issue with, uh, a number of the sidewalks that have been redone. uh all over town. Mayor, if I may, I hang on one second. I'm not done yet. Um
and um it's it's something that I think we need to address with the contractors. Um was it the water company that did it or you don't know? I believe. All right. Well, we'll find out. We'll know. We'll find out who it was. We'll take a look at it. And then also the pothole. It's at the corner of Van Beern
and Eastern States. All right. Can Can you have Rodney's crew out there tomorrow morning? As long as it's not rainy. If it's raining, they may have to wait. Um, but if it's uh if it's dry weather, let's get them out there. If there's water in the hole from not from rain, then then we've got a
water issue. Uh, but let's let's check it out. Let's address it because I guess from 2019 to today, that's that's a bit of time. So, we we'll get that addressed. Um, a lot of your other issues, I'm going to defer that to the board of engineers. Uh that's really something that the chiefs if they have
an issue with anything that you brought up, whether it's parking, whether it's a grill, whether it's um um elevators, uh because they're the ones who have to deal with it, that really should be addressed from your board of engineers. You should be bringing that to the board of engineers and then the engineers can
bring it to us or through Roger to us as well. But those really are um fire department, firematic issues. Uh and and that's really up to the board of engineers to determine whether it warrants their discussion with the burough council on that or not. It's not
to push you off. It's just I want to follow the protocols that you know we have a board of engineers for a reason and and that's the reason that uh that's part of the reason, not the reason, but that's part of the reason. They they can they can vet th those items. Uh but I thank you for coming out and pointing
some of that out. Um do you want to divert? Okay. All right. So, um, before we go to consent resolutions, we'll dial back, uh, because we have I did want to make a Oh, I'm sorry, Gina. Go ahead. I'm
sorry. So, Mr. O'Neal, I am aware of what you're speaking of and I have spoken to Rodney about it. It occurred on Grand Avenue as well where I live, not just at my house, but several different places. Also happened on the other side of town, uh, in the Cadillac Drive areas. Rodney
is aware of it. Um I I think the way it explained to me was that he was coming testing this patch that they would put over it so that the flaking would stop and we would have um you know solid sidewalks and driveways. It's in in most places it appears to be an apron. Um but
um I I think the whole thing with topline is we can't do anything about it. It's too late. and why it happened a couple of years after the fact. I don't think it was solved either because it was good for a couple of years and then it and then it started flaking. I I
don't know, but I have discussed it with him. Thank you. All right, we'll check that out. Yeah, we we can u we we can speak to um our engineers, see if there's a ceiling solution that may be appropriate for that application. That's what he spoke about. Yeah.
Okay. But but I think we need to make attention to it and remind them to get it done. Great. Thank you. All right. Um so we have Chief Stitley and Chief Rodriguez here. If you guys want to kind of maybe come up to the front, we'll uh we'll dial back in the agenda and uh I'm going to uh go over to
Roger to kind of maybe give you a heads up as to what he covered. Uh and then we can chat a little bit further. Uh so what I told the the council is that the fire department is looking to uh sell engine 4 in an effort to to pre
uh procure uh another piece that would greatly benefit the burrow. Uh an apparatus that would provide us with a second aerial uh as well as be a first could possibly a firstd piece uh that it is a pump that it can carry water and can meet a lot of the different needs in
various parts of the burrow. Um as we As we continue to discuss this, um, the bur the council just needs some more information on to what it is and how we plan to implement. Just push your button.
Yep. Uh, so the board of engineers looked at a lot of different options. Uh, even replacing the current tiller that we have, uh, which does require two drivers to operate and get it out the door. We also looked at a mid-mount um platform
as well as a rear mount platform. Uh with the current building going up in town, the apartments, the parking issues that not only that we see, but residency as well, um they're just as long as engine 4 is currently. We have a lot of drivers that will not um they opt not to
drive engine 4 compared to the other two engines which are a lot shorter. Um and then our call volume itself is also increasing. We have more fires in town. the apartments make it harder to get around. Uh so selling engine 4 to offset
the cost of a ladder truck, you know, as you stated before, there is staffing issues from time to time. Uh we have had a couple new members here and there. Uh but during the daytime, it's still, you know, um harder to get out the door with, you know, all of our pieces. We can get one or two out, but especially
when volunteers are away for Fourth of July weekend, um one piece can get out the door and adequately staff and make sure that the residents are safe as well as our members. How old is the truck? It's brand new. Talking about the one we're looking at.
Yeah. The one you want to get rid of? It's a 2018 Pierce Velocity. That's engine three. Engine four. Engine four. Okay. All right. Yeah. and and it's all predicated on getting the value out of Engine 4 from a financial
standpoint because without that value it it the the the money that would have to be outlaid by the burrow and the hopes that it would come back that plays into it. Um what what what I find interesting and tell me if if I'm wrong is so we've
always had this 20-year cycle and I look at it and you know Rich may say I'm all wet but I think a lot of that was driven by the companies. The companies needed a new piece of apparatus every 20 years. The lifespan of it the technology the technology is changing the lifespan's changing
lifespan is probably shortening I would think um just because they're not built as well. Um but the technology is enhanced but the technology changes so rapidly now that trying to stay up with it is is a little more difficult. So am I wrong in saying that the departments
look beginning to look at it instead of just a standard 20-year cycle of this is when we get a new piece of equipment. You're beginning to look at it from instead of a company standpoint, a department standpoint and a municipal need standpoint. Is that so that's is that the general thinking? Yes, it's
it's the town has drastically changed. Uh we're building up higher. Like I said, parking is getting tighter, the buildings are getting tighter. So, alto together it's a completely change from each individual company being separated throughout town to one single complex that's here now, the emergency services
facility that we're all responding out of. Previously, you had, you know, engines responding and they had didn't have adequate staffing when they got on scene. Now they're responding with adequate staffing to get to these scenes. Yeah. So, and a lot of it, I think, is
going to come down to numbers and sense. And um you know, and I've heard numbers anywhere from 600,000 to 200,000 for engine 4 getting that on the on the secondary secondhand market. I I don't know. I have no idea. That's that's just the numbers that that are kind of
floating around. I I think before we even kind of go further in the discussion, I think we need to see that advertised. So, so we have how many years left on pay to pay engine 4? Uh, there's there's 163,000 due. All right.
163 about 164,000 due on the bond that that um for that purchase that would have to be paid off. Yeah. So, I think we have to we have to see those those finances. We have to see what the the cost of a new piece of equipment. I I understand I think everybody understands what what you're
trying to do. is just whether it's financially feasible or not at at this point. Um what's the cost of the new piece? What do we still have to pay off on the existing piece? Um
and then what we could potentially get as a tradein value or a sale value on that and see and in different ranges. Is it 200? Is it 400? Is it 600? and see what those numbers play out to be because it conceptually I get it
financially it's uh that's a that's that's the cell all those numbers have been provided to the burrow for over a month now. Well, it's this is just appearing on the on this that what is the what is the sale price?
How did you for currently projected? It it varies. It was we had someone reach out that they their budget was only $200,000. So, we were just seeing what we were selling it for. Uh E1 gave a tradein value of about $420,000.
And then there was another fire department in North Jersey that was interested but then backed out. So we got to see those numbers. I mean it's it's kind of it's it's you know this is coming to the council cold. We're we're we're seeing this now. So well originally I had so originally we
we had spoke chiefs and I and and council Vroom because this didn't come up during the budget hearing. So, so thought process was was to come come to almost like a neutral number in the sense that maybe the the council would
have to come up with $100,000, you know, to to do that, which is certainly doable. Um, but but you're right. I think that I think it because I I wasn't sure of what the trade value was. I know that there's been we there's been an attempt to try to sell it. Um, but yeah,
based on that information, yeah, it's a best case, worst case scenario. Without that, I mean, we're kind of just we don't we don't have we can't we don't have numbers. And what is the cost of a new one of the current one that we're looking at is about $1.4 million.
A new ladder truck is about 2.8 million. And a platform uh rear mount or midmount is just over two million. About 2.2 2.4. Yeah. The 1.4 for is for the what is it called a g a gint grint quint quint yeah it's a street stick ladder with a pump on it
and and that was actually supposed to be what engine 4 is now right that's what they were looking at a study that the burrow paid for and the provided by the fire department actually recommended a rear mounted yeah that you know and that's why I'm not adverse to the idea
the concept of it works I mean I understand it it's the finances behind it we can't we can't just say ah It's great. It's a great idea. Let's go. But it's, you know, we're we're we're not fully into the new emergency services building yet. Um, we we have to understand what those finances are
before I think the council can make a a fair judgment. Absolutely. And on the contrary, you also have a a 2018 engine that's just sitting there as well because drivers don't opt not to drive it. So, if it's sitting there not going out on calls, what benefit is it to the
residents as well as the firefighters in the burrow? No, I hear you. I hear you. Would the would the council consider um listening to the chief would the council consider this a little outside the box serving as a bank for another municipality? So if municipality wanted the new the
old apparatus for I don't know 600,000 if that's the market rate I don't know what it is um and but their budget calls for 200,000 would the municipality finance that for them? Would we hold the note? Well, we've we've held the note for other things
like in Hillsboro and things like that. So, yeah. So, that's basically it. I'm not sure we can for a firet truck. I'm just trying to think of ways to, you know, pack. I like the creative thinking. I don't know if we should get involved in that in that end of things. So, the So, do we have a pumper truck as
well or is the 2018 truck a pumper? I thought it was a ladder. The 2018 uh Pierce is a engine has a pumper on it. There's no ladder on it. Our only ladder in town is a tiller, which is over its 20-y year mark, which is recommended by NFPA to replace it.
So, would we get rid of both of those vehicles then? Would that make it more flush to purchase a new one? The tiller and the engine for? No, we'd have to get a new tiller, right? In order to reach the high the So, the tiller is has a mainly a
stainless steel body and chassis on it. Uh it's it's probably cost beneficial for the burrow to refurbish it versus replacing it. But we still need that truck. It has a 100 foot ladder compared to a 75 foot. So I think ultimately you're either going with a larger ladder than
we have now anyway and you'll be paying 2.2 to$2.8 million to replace to replace it. And the 75. See we can't buy a quint that at 100. You can you can they're about 1.6 million.
So if we got rid of two vehicles and got a taller quint would we have more assets towards you're going to get pennies on a dollar for the tiller. It's a 20 plus year apparatus at this point. So the cost of selling that off isn't
going to offset the cost. You're financially I feel like the burrow's more feasible to refurb it if we went that route. Okay. Yeah. Reertify the ladder and Yeah. Well, I I think before we can even really get into it, I think we have to
we've got to see some numbers and and and then maybe have you come back and then we can get into uh you know the ins and outs and and I think maybe even you know and I know we go on inspection day every year to look at the equipment. But
I think you know show advising all of council so the public can see it as well. What what is the apparatus that we have? What types of apparatus do we have? what does that apparatus do and what is it intended to cover so that we can we can have a a broad discussion not just at this table but allow the public
to understand it as well make sense yes am I getting with that am I getting this right that there's a million dollar difference right now between the trade in value and the purchase price of the new one is that like it depends on uh so the trade in value
yes on the trade in value but that same engine that we bought in 2018 or less. Well, the same engine that we bought in 2018, a company bought one similar, same body style, same size for $1.3 million currently. Okay. Just want to understand a little
bit more around put a box around what we're talking about here. The only other variable was that uh you know I guess three years ago the fire department ordered a truck and that's how long it took to come in this year, right? So, the idea of the Quint was was
uh more quickly accessible. So, it wouldn't be a three-year period. It's on the lot. Yeah. Yeah. It is currently it's on the lot. Yeah. It's currently at absolute. Um right now, I've talked to four other different manufacturers and they're three plus years for an apparatus if we place an order today.
So, this can't wait till the new budget season. This will be long gone before that. And the thing to think about uh and as was said by Kevin is that um with the purchase of the new engine one, Somerville kept getting knocked back how
many times? It was uh signed in 2020 19. We started discussing it because ours was due in 2020. We didn't sign anything until 2021 and it just came into the house of March. Well, was that part of the COVID
backlog? No. No. It had something to do with the storms that took effect that that got backlogged, but other than that, that was only because of the fact that we waited to sign off on it. There was a bunch of delays whether we wanted um
independent steering and maintenance got involved and stuff like that, but other that what that those two months it took us That backtracked us almost a year and a half. But if we put it off until the new budget year, you're saying it would be a three-year wait anyway.
Three-year wait and the price would increase significantly. Well, well, the assumption is you're going to be custom at that point, right? Opposed to getting, right? Yeah. So, so you just it appears that the the existing the the quint that
they're talking about is is available awful a lot where where anything else after that period of time will be considered a custom purchase which would just take the three years or whatever. So, what what time frame do you need
are we looking at to make a to make a decision before the Quint would be gone? So, Absol Absolute Fire um said that they have to make their first payment on July 21st. They're not selling it right now. They're holding it. They're holding it for us.
They're hold they're just holding it for us. They have a lot of They have a lot of interest in the ladder truck, but they were just holding it based off a letter of intent that was signed by the burrow um just to hold it so it wasn't sold by these to these other agencies. We issued a
So, it's not a binding agreement. No, we actually issued a letter of interest saying that, you know, if we could put together this package at some point, um, we'd be interested in in in in making that acquisition off off the state
contract at the set price. Um, we've actually released that letter of interest um at some a couple months ago just so that we wouldn't get caught in a position of which the vendor um you know, turn down
an order or something that what that would put us in a difficult position. So, we we did release that. Um, obviously, we have a relationship with that company. We used them for uh we've used them for many years. Um, you know, so so that relationship is
that that's what's currently existing. Any other questions? All right, let's run some numbers. see what we got. All right. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you. All right. Uh, next up we have consent resolutions. Any to be pulled off for
further discussion? 188, please. Okay. All right. Uh, 182. authorizing and directing the planning board of the Burough of Somerville to examine whether blocks and lots as listed shown on the official tax map of the bureau meets the
statutory criteria for an area in need of redevelopment, specifically a non-condemnational redevelopment area pursuant to the local redevelopment and housing law and included in the West Main Street redevelopment area. Uh 183 is rejecting all bids for janitorial maintenance. 184 is approving the
release of the cash guarantee to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. 185 is approving new wrecker and towing license for 2526. 186 is authorizing the sale of surplus property uh Ford F-250 350 pickup bed
through Municipid. 187 is authorizing payment for the $500 application fee for a grant from the hazardous discharge site remediation fund to the NJA for remediation of certain sections of the Somerville landfill. 189 amending the zoning permit application modifying
regulations for existing driveways and decks. 190 approving tax overpayment refund for 14 Dean Place. 191 is eliminating handicap parking space in front of 36 West Cliff. 192 is approving a shared services agreement for a shared municipal court between Bridgewater and
Somerville and authorizes the mayor and municipal clerk to execute the agreement. 193 is authorizing the placement of a handicap parking space on Walnut Street. Do we have a motion? So moved. Second. Roll call. Council members Theresa Bonner. Yes. Andrew Ki. Yes. Glen Deny,
yes. Randy Pitts, yes. Gina Stravik, yes. Roger Verum, yes. All right. 188 is approval to submit a grant application and execute a grant contract with the NJOT 2026 state aid grant program uh for road improvements including South Midaw
Street and a portion of Washington Place. Do we have a motion? So moved. Second discussion. Yep. Roll call. Um, but I'm glad you brought it up because I did have a question. I thought it unusual that we have a grant and a contract all in the same resolution. So,
what work are we going to what work are we approving? The the state of New Jersey, this is a template resolution and that's the way it reads in that resolution. This project actually has money uh from another grant. Um I should say from a prior grant. This is
an additional grant for that project. The project um is about $500,000 and we have about $200,000 towards that project. But the reason that reads that way is exactly it's in the template of the state's resolution. So we have $500,000 for paving of the
street. Is that what it is? Uh no, we have about $200,000. It includes uh both paving, driveway aprons, cur curbs, handicap ramps, and uh and and the milling of the paving and and also uh uh inlets uh drainage.
So, we're doing this the street for 500,000 and we've got a grant to offset it at 200,000. Is that currently? And this this is this is an additional request for funding for for the same street. That's correct. Thank you for clarifying.
Okay. uh with a recusal. Uh roll call. Theresa Bonner is recused. Uh Andrew Ki, yes. Glenn Deny, yes. Randy Pittz, yes. Gina Stravik, yes. Roger Verm, yes. All right. Uh bills and vouchers. Roger.
I make a motion to pay bills and vouchers in the amount of 1,799,363.88. Second. Second. Discussion. Roll call. Council members Terresa Bonner. Yes. Yes. Andrew Ki, yes. Glen, yes. Randy Pittz, yes. Gina Stravik, yes. Roger Ferm,
yes. All right. And Gina, I will ask for a motion for adjournment. Motion to adjurnn. Second. Discussion. All the