Adams Board Picks Chevy Police Cruisers
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Citing statistics from various reports, including the annual evaluation of police cars conducted by the Michigan State Police, Selectman Edward MacDonald said a Chevy would not only save the town money (alleviating some of the budget crunch) but also increase safety and performance.
"If you look at it dollar for dollar, this is best," MacDonald said.
The department has used Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors since 1993 and they have posed no major mechanical problems, warranting only routine maintenance and wear-and-tear repairs, said Poirot.
"We want to stay with what's been proven," said Poirot, who added that moving equipment from one Ford vehicle to another is simple but the same equipment cannot be transferred to a Chevrolet. Additionally, new restraining cages would need to be purchased to accommodate the new vehicles.
"I'd like to keep my fleet uniform," Poirot said.
The department's mechanic, Bruce Richards, said work on the Crown Victoria cruisers has been mastered after 15 years because he and his team have amassed spare parts and several manuals specifically for the cars.
MacDonald estimated that the switch would save the town upwards of $8,000 per vehicle in both upfront costs and on gasoline. The selectman also said the cruisers are front-wheel drive and safer.
"More people have died in a Ford than in a Chevy," he said.
MacDonald said the reasoning behind his decision was to save money for the town. Saying the chief was unwilling to deviate from "what is tried and true," MacDonald called for the use of the Chevrolets to evaluate if they provide a better performance longterm.
"Change is good," he said. "We'll study the new cars for two years [when the chief comes back to the board to request money for new ones], then we can compare apples to apples. Right now, you're giving me an orange and telling me how good the apple is."
The Selectmen voted 2-1 (Chairman Joseph R. Dean Jr. abstains from police matters because his son is an officer) with Donald R. Sommer opposed.
Sommer motioned to hold off the vote for another week so that the board could further discuss the options but it failed to receive a second.
Jones Block Update
Following a presentation by Community Development Director Donna Cesan, the board voted unanimously to waive the building permit fees for the development of the Jones Block and Carlow building.
Cesan reported that developer Gerard Sanchez had incurred unexpected costs when it was discovered that several underground storage containers filled with home heating oil needed to be removed. Additionally, research previously performed by MassDevelopment for the receipt of historic tax credits were not useful to Sanchez, whose use of the building was different than when the studies had been done.
"To waive the fees would be a gesture of continued partnership with the developer," said Cesan.
One million dollars in Community Development Action Grant funds was also originally intended to offset costs for the building's elevator but, since the money can only be used for limited historical facade improvements, CDAG will also not fund as much of the project as hoped.
"I don't feel like it's just a handout at this point," said Selectmen Joseph Solomon.
The amount of the fees is not to exceed $3,500.
Sommer said he supported the waiver because Sanchez had taken a long-vacant building and promised to rehabilitate it.
"This could really be the beginning of a revitalization of Park Street," he said.
MacDonald said he would not vote to approve another corporate handout were Sanchez to request more from the board.
"I can justify this one because we told him it was a clean building when it wasn't. I know what it costs to remove hazardous waste and this is a good-faith gesture. I'm moving to analyze what's best for the downtown and for the town," said MacDonald.
