Several Guilderland Center residents voiced concern about low voter turnout to bond a $400,000 fire truck, but noted the new equipment is necessary to protect residents.
The bond to purchase a new fire truck at the Guilderland Center Fire Department was approved 17-4 on Tuesday, June 9.
All residents in the Guilderland Center fire district were eligible to vote. The department has close to 50 volunteers.
One Guilderland Center resident, Barbara Mabee, said she was concerned the vote was not better advertised.
I think its’ shameful, Mabee said. `We have the right to vote.`
She added, though, that while the government often carelessly spends money, she would have supported the fire truck bond if given a choice.
Another resident echoed that sentiment: Henry Elario said he was unaware of the vote, but would have supported the measure if he had been aware there was a vote.
`They didn’t do much to promote it,` he said.
The residents did not display concerns about the affirmative vote to bond the truck and each of them enumerated reasons why it is important to have the best possible equipment for the volunteers.
`This poor little fire department. They need equipment,` said one resident Emilia, who did not want her last name published.
She added that with housing developments like Glass Works Village being planned, and ones like Dutchmen Acres being discussed, it is important that the fire departments are prepared to handle any emergency.
A volunteer at the Guilderland Center Fire Department who asked not to be named said low turnout has always been an issue, and a vote with 21 people is not uncommon.
The Guilderland Center Fire District Board of Commissioners passed a resolution on the bond on April 20, and notice of the vote was first given on the town’s Web site last month. The vote took place on Tuesday, June 9, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Town Supervisor Ken Runion said, due to state legislation, the town, in addition to the fire district, was required to post notice of the vote, even though the district is distinct from the town.
`They’re almost considered a separate municipality,` Runion said.
Notice of the vote was placed in The Altamont Enterprise, the town’s paper of record, on May 7.
The town is replacing and selling a 25-year-old truck with a new truck, in order to extend the life of another fire truck purchased in 1993, said Don Albright, chairman of the board at Guilderland Center Fire Department and chief fire inspector in town.
Attempts to determine if the bond will result in a tax increase were inconclusive.
Albright said the department must keep up with a myriad of mandates and regulations passed down from the other governmental entities.
`In doing so, we need to change the way we respond,` Albright said of the mandates. `We’re trying to stay ahead of the eight-ball.`
Albright said due to increasing technological demands and requirements on the specifications of the trucks, it is no longer feasible to hold a truck as long as departments used to.
`You used to be able to buy and replace trucks for 30 years,` he said. Now he said, holding a truck for more than 20 years is hardly workable. He did say, though, that the old truck is still in good condition, and it will eventually be put into a trade magazine for sale.
The fire department is also planning to use $260,000 toward a smaller truck, used only for putting out fires, from its reserve fund, Albright said. The larger truck will be capable of ice and rope rescue, as well as extrication and fighting fires, he said.
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