LONG BRANCH — With grant money likely unattainable, the city may have to bond or allocate funds to replace two of the fire department’s aging fire trucks.
During a Sept. 13 workshop meeting, representatives from the city’s fire department spoke about the need to replace the two trucks.
“We are in bad shape at the fire department as far as fire apparatus,” Fire Chief Al Sico said .
He said the two trucks that are set for replacement are a 36-year-old truck used by Neptune Hose Company No. 1 and a 28-yearold truck from Oceanic Engine Company No. 1.
Long Branch Finance Director Ron Mehlhorn Sr. said in an interview that the trucks would cost more than $300,000 each.
He said the truck purchases would go out to bid.
“They are relatively cheap compared to others,” Mehlhorn said. “They have a truck committee, and the truck committee comes up with specifications and we go out for bid.”
At the meeting, Sico said that he has spoken with manufacturers and that the price he presented is likely the price the city can obtain.
He also said that to keep the costs down, the funds the department is requesting are for basic trucks without a lot of new technology.
“Today they are putting all kinds of computers in them, and every one’s different, nothing’s the same, and they are driving everybody crazy in maintenance,” Sico said. “I proposed two bare-bones, plain-Jane engines.
“The only things that will have computers are the engine and the transmission, and you can’t fight that,” he added. “Nothing else will be computerized.”
Sico said he did not expect the council to make an immediate decision, but was hopeful the department can go out to bid in December and award a contract next year.
He also said the Fire Department has applied for grants for the trucks but has been awarded grant money for three consecutive years, making a fourth unlikely.
Firefighter Jack Kiely said that after the two trucks are replaced, the city will start to look at replacing a truck for the West End Engine Company No. 3 and Independent Fire Engine & Truck Company No. 2, which he said are the two most used trucks in the city.
For more information on the Long Branch Fire Department, visit the website at http://www.njfmba68.com/.
The nine Long Branch fire companies are: Atlantic Engine & Truck Company No. 2, Branchport Hose Company No. 3, Elberon Engine Company No. 4, Independent Fire Engine & Truck Company No. 2, Neptune Hose Company No. 1, Oceanic Engine Company No. 1, Oliver Byron Engine Company No. 5, Phil Daly Hose Company No. 2, and West End Engine Company No. 3.