North Adams Council OKs $1.75M Borrowing for New Ladder Truck
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Fire Department is picking up a hot deal in the form of a 2026 ladder truck.
The City Council on Tuesday authorized a borrowing of $1,751,351 for the purchase of the new E-One HR 100 aerial ladder truck.
"There was a ladder truck ordered by another community who cannot complete the purchase," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey. "The vendor knows that we've been talking about improving our equipment, and called us and somewhat put us at the top of the list. Several other communities vying for this ...
"This is a tremendous opportunity for us to get a truck that is somewhat priced at 2025 values and keep us in certification."
She pointed out that it will replace a 1999 ladder truck that she had purchased as the city procurement officer 27 years ago.
Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre, in his slide presentation to the council, stated that purchasing this truck will save the city between $500,000 and $600,000 compared to ordering one now, and it will be ready in a few months, rather than up to three years.
"This ladder truck represents a critical investment in public safety, the operational readiness of North Adams Fire Department and safety of our firefighters," he said. "The replacement is necessary to maintain effective emergency response capabilities, protect our firefighters and continue to provide level of service our residents expect from the North Adams Fire Department."
The current Smeal ladder truck has been in frontline service for 27 years — a dozen past the National Fire Protection Association's recommended industry standard. Lefebvre said the truck should have been put in reserve at age 15 and retired at 20.
"At 27 years old, this truck has exceeded that benchmark and is increasingly difficult and costly to maintain," he said, and is in danger of losing its NFP certification. "This was the last new piece of apparatus purchased in whole by the city. Other new pieces of apparatus that have been purchased have been through AFG [federal Assistance to Firefighter Grants Program] grant funding with minimal matches by the city."
The department's newest apparatus is the 2015 E-One Cyclone II that replaced a 30-year-old engine.
The new ladder truck also has something the current one doesn't — a pump and a 500-gallon tank. The old truck requires a separate vehicle to supply it water.
"This reduces flexibility at emergency scenes and can slow down critical operations," the chief said. "Additionally, the technology and safety systems on the truck are outdated by today's standards, increasing operational and safety risks."
The new truck also has the latest technology and safety features such as advanced aerial controls, improved stabilization systems, enhanced lighting for nighttime operations and monitored cab safety features.
"A modern, reliable ladder truck allows us to respond more effectively to fires, perform rescues more safely, and protect critical infrastructure," he said, with the mayor noting that fire operations is weighed into home insurance rates.
In response to questions, Lefebvre said the department had initially looked to spec out a smaller quint truck, one that combines water pumping and ladder capabilities, which this truck qualifies as with larger aerial capabilities. The Smeal is too old to be traded in, requires at least $30,000 to bring it up to standard, so would be sold off privately, and stored at the city yard until then.
The mayor said the debt service on the 15-year term at 3.32 percent is about $153,000 a year and will be part of the annual budget. That should be manageable, she said, as $628,175 in debt and interest falling off this year. These include costs related to construction at Colegrove Park Elementary, the public safety building roof and highway equipment.
E-One is expected to complete the truck's build in March and deliver it to the city's dealer for painting and signage. The Fire Department should be receiving the truck in April.
"This will fit in our building, by the way," said the chief. "I was told to say that, and I completely missed that part of my slide. I promise it will fit."
In other business:
• The council approved a resolution in support of the Massachusetts Teachers Association Fiscal Crisis Campaign, postponed from the last meeting, on a vote of 7-1, with Councilor Peter Breen voting no and Councilor Marie McCarron abstaining and recusing herself from discussion as she is an active member of the MTA.
• The council referred proposed updates to the Rules of Order to the General Goverment Committee.
• The council approved bonding levels of $250,000 for the treasurer/tax collector, $62,500 for the assistant city treasurer, and $15,000 for the city clerk.
• The mayor announced appointments of Nancy Bullett, Aimee Annichiarico, Ross Jacobs, Wayne Wilkinson and Christine Girard to the new Affordable Housing Trust. Bullett and Annichiarico terms will end Jan. 13, 2028; Girard, Jacobs and Wilkinson on Jan. 13, 2027.
William Hooper was appointed to the Airport Commission, replacing Andrew Fitch and with a term to expire Feb. 1, 2028, and Rita Sporbert, until Jan. 13, 2029; reappointed were John Treski and Robert Simons to the Commission on Disabilities, until Dec. 1, 2028; Gabrielle West and Paul Marino to the Historical Commission, until Jan. 2, 2029; Lisa Lescarbeau and Richard Taskin to the library trustees, until Jan. 2, 2029; Lawrence Burdick to the Cemetery Commission until Jan. 1, 2029; Peter Oleskiewicz to the Planning Board, until Feb. 1, 2030; and Ross Jacobs and Christopher Thomas to the Zoning Board of Appeals, until Jan. 1, 2031.
• A proposal from Councilor Lillian Zavatsky for councilors to air their priorities for the year and the updates from the mayor were postponed to the next meeting because of the lateness of the hour. The meeting concluded after 10 p.m. because of an hourlong joint meeting with the School Committee at 7 to elect a new School Committee member.
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