New vehicles topped the wish list for 2006 at budget hearings
Tuesday at a work session of Bradford City Council.
Addressing council were Police Chief Roger Sager, Parks Director
Chip Comilla, Health and Code Enforcement Officer George Corignani,
Fire Chief Bill McCormack, Department of Public Works Director Gary
Alcock, City Electrician Terry Kornacki and City Clerk John
Peterson.
“We’re trying to keep a vehicle for four to five years before we
replace it,” Sager explained to council. The police cars and one
sport-utility vehicle run 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
He suggested that council look into a program through Ford,
which is offering a leasing program for police agencies.
“There is no Catch-22 for excessive mileage or dings or dents,”
he said, explaining that after a three-year lease, the city would
own the car for a fee of $350.
“I think that’s a good possibility in an effort to keep up with
vehicles,” he said. “We’re trying in the long run to keep the costs
down.”
Corignani also asked for a vehicle for Code Enforcement Officer
Merle Silvis. The one used now is not likely to pass inspection, he
said.
“We’re going to have to do something before the inspection runs
out,” Corignani said.
Peterson asked McCormack if the fire department still had a
former medic vehicle available in the department that could be used
for code enforcement. McCormack said they do have a 1997 Chevy
Suburban that will last about three to four more years.
“I’d rather us look into utilizing that vehicle,” said
Councilman Dan Costello.
McCormack suggested an arrangement for the city to replace
vehicles on a schedule. He recommended replacing a 1976 reserve
pumper with a 500-gallon capacity with a 100,000 gallon pumper that
Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department has for sale.
Fire trucks could be replaced on an eight-year rotation, while
ambulances could be replaced on a 10-year rotation.
The city’s electrical bucket truck, which is seven years old,
should be replaced while there is still some trade-in value,
Kornacki suggested. “Consider replacing it next year or in the near
future.”
While most of the budget proposals were similar to those from
2005, there were a few places where costs are anticipated to be
higher next year.
In the police department, the city is faced with having to
replace the body armor of the entire police force.
Sager explained that industry-wide tests have shown that a
material inside the armor is “deteriorating faster than it should.
As yet there has not been a recorded failure of these vests.”
Peterson explained that the police department has applied for
grant funds to cover the cost of the vests, but the vests will have
to be paid for and then the city would be reimbursed by grant funds
if they are successful.
In the parks department, a successful year at Barcroft Pool
meant an increase in spending on chemicals and related supplies.
Comilla explained he increased next year’s budget to reflect the
successful season.
There was also an increase in maintenance and repairs for 2005,
as the chillers in the floor of the ice rink needed repairs. He
asked for an increase in his repair budget for 2006 to prepare for
the unknown. Comilla warned the council that the floor of the rink
is nearing the end of it’s useful life.
“It’s just the aging process of an ice rink,” he said. The
estimated cost for replacement is $1 million.
Mayor Michele Corignani asked about the availability of Keystone
grants and asked Comilla to contact the Office of Economic and
Community Development to find out if financial assistance could be
available for the rink.
Planning for next year in the public works department depends in
large part on the result of a lawsuit at the county level.
The city has been involved in litigation with the McKean County
Solid Waste Authority involving tipping fees at the landfill. Last
year, McKean County Judge John Cleland ruled that all
municipalities in the county must dispose of their solid waste at
the Hutchins landfill. Now, the landfill has been sold.
“We are dependent upon the judge releasing us from the
injunction now in place to release us from the tipping fees,”
Peterson said. If that happens, the city plans to haul its trash to
Chautauqua County in New York.
Peterson also addressed the council about increases in items
such as the cost of health insurance and natural gas, saying that
definite numbers for next year are still not known.
