Council Approves Fire Truck Purchase

Special meeting held concerning bids

By Margo Frink

(Oneida – Nov. 23, 2009) A special meeting was held of the Oneida Common Council to discuss why the lowest responsible bidder for the city’s proposed fire engine was not accepted by the fire truck committee.

City Attorney Michel DeBottis was concerned that the committee tightened its design specifications to the point that only one company could meet the criteria, which was the Sutphen Corporation. Sutphen’s bid of $440,000 was about $60,000 higher than the lowest bidder.

Committee Chairman James Dowd and fire Chief Donald Hudson prepared a color-coded spreadsheet outlining the truck specifications, each bidder and which bidders did not meet criteria.

Hudson said that if each bidder takes exception they need to give a detailed description of why and neither did that. He also said many truck manufacturers want to sell you their truck, any truck.

“We get multiple bids,” Hudson said. “They don’t always come close to our specs.”

Hudson explained that the specifications are compiled and given to all that want to bid.

Main specifications the committee made were a stainless steel body and frame rails. Only Sutphen modified its assembly line product to meet the committee’s criteria, Hudson said.

DeBottis said he was not comfortable with the way the bid was handled and that it opened the city up to lawsuits. He said the committee should go back to each bidder and give them options as to whether they would or could meet the criteria. DeBottis asked Hudson and Dowd to make two phone calls, explain the criteria again and ask them if their bid still stands.

Hudson explained that every specification that went out was applied to all bidders.

“What it boils down to is what they’ve got on the shelf so they don’t have to spec that item,” Hudson said. “We could be three years just getting answers from all the bidders. If they don’t meet the specs it tells me they don’t want the job.”

After Mayor Peter Hedglon went down the list of specifications and how each explaining which bidders met the criteria and which didn’t, DeBottis changed his mind. He said he had looked at it from a legal point of view but since the explanation was made in detail, he had no misgivings about the bid.

The Council decided to take a roll call vote. With the exception of Councilwoman Marcia Rafte, who was unable to attend the meeting, a resolution passed 3-2 to purchase the truck. Councilors Max Smith, Dan Jones and Rob Brown all were in favor. Councilors Mike Murawski and Donald Moore voted nay.

Hedglon said there may not necessarily be a tax increase for the purchase of the truck.

“It depends on how it’s paid for in the budget,” Hedglon said.

Sutphen agreed to hold its price until Dec. 31, Hudson said. If the truck is ordered now, it won’t be available until the spring of 2011. In the meantime, Hudson said the Verona Fire Department is on standby if needed. One of the city’s trucks has been put out of commission because it didn’t pass the state Department of Transportation’s inspection last month.

Hudson said he applied for a grant but according to reports from Senator Charles Schumer’s office, grant applications from 2008 are still under review. Dowd said the grant would be $285,000 if approved, bringing the cost of the truck to $155,000.

Margo Frink is managing editor for M3P Media LLC. She can be reached at 315-363-4254 or 315-481-8732.

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Council Approves Fire Truck Purchase

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