MANSFIELD: Firefighters to receive new gear

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
   The township’s fire department now has the ability to purchase new turnout gear and needed equipment as well as the remaining components of its new fire truck.Township Committeeman Sean Gable, who is also deputy chief of Franklin Fire Co. No. 1, shared the news during the meeting on Aug. 13 that the fire department would receive a grant for $53,000.
   ”It will be for 10 sets of turnout gear; some new nozzles — that is going to replace some equipment on the fire apparatus,” he said. “It was good news.”
   Mayor Higgins thanked the fire company “for going out and finding this grant.”
   ”Obviously we need to get the proper equipment to meet the safety needs of our township,” he said.
   Mr. Gable said that Matthew Konowicz, second captain of the fire company, completed all the grant applications.
   ”Him and the chief (Doug Goodenough) took the time in getting all the information in all the pricing and the quotes and all the paperwork filled out and in,” he said. “Those guys put a lot of effort into that and it paid off for our community.”
   The committee also passed a resolution memorializing and accepting change orders for acquiring a fire truck.
   Mr. Gable abstained from the vote.
   The committee approved a change order totaling $7,979 at its Feb. 12 meeting.
   ”It is usual in the case of a fit-out for the vehicle to, for some issues, to require a change order,” Mr. Monzo said.
   Since the Feb. 12 meeting, representatives of the Franklin Fire Co. had a meeting with Pierce Manufacturing Inc. and were made aware of several items that were not specified within bid documents that were necessary to be added to the fire truck, according to the resolution.
   The discussion lead to additional expenses, which resulted in the committee amending the change order amount of $7,979 approved on Feb. 12 to $9,461, according to the resolution.
   The fire company will be hosting an open house during which the new truck will be dedicated on Oct. 10.