Ladder Truck Informational Sheet

1. Current budget can sustain the costs of the proposed ladder purchases; taxes do NOT need to be raised to cover their costs. Cost will be taken out of the annual monies normally placed into equipment reserve account.
2. Purchase plans include two options: a ten-year lease-purchase, or a ten-year bond. The Board of Fire Commissioners will choose whichever option provides the cheaper interest rate.
3. Total cost of both trucks will be approximately 1.4 million dollars. This translates to approximately $160,000 a year for the ten year lease/bond duration.
4. In 2001, the Board of Fire Commissioners hired consultants from New York City to survey the fire district and determine the need for aerial trucks. Their report highlighted the need for an aerial device at the Maple Avenue fire department.
5. In 2005, the current ladder truck at the Maple Avenue fire department (EL-293) required nearly $12,000 in repairs to pass annual certification. This repair accounted for nearly 1/3 of the 2005 apparatus repair budget.
6. Early 2006, concerned about the recent repair bills, the Board of Fire Commissioners had the ladder truck inspected by a qualified technician from front to rear. This took nearly two days and produced an itemized report of problems nearly 2 1/2 pages long. These items have an estimated $50,000 price tag to fix.
7. Ladder trucks are arguably the most complex equipment in fire departments. Various electrical, computer, hydraulic and pneumatic systems can require expensive repairs.
8. There have been many documented cases of the truck breaking down over the past six years (towed back to station, couldn't get ladder back down,etc.). In August alone there have been three documented cases of the truck not operating during calls.
9. Given a $12,000 repair in 2005, and a reported $50,000 repair in the near future, the Board believes its the best decision to replace the truck instead of sinking considerable money into a nearly 20 year old truck.
10. In 2007 new EPA Diesel engines exhaust regulations take effect, adding roughly $40,000 to each truck - for a total of $80,000 additional cost if these trucks are purchased after 2006. Town of Greenfield Town Board purchased a dump truck earlier this year because of these requirements.
11. While the proposal includes two "ladder" trucks - they are very different in functionality: one will replace the existing 100 foot platform ladder and the additional 75 foot stick will add to Greenfield Center's fleet.

District Grant Initiatives

1. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant totaling $115,000
   • Approximately $32,000 spent on various medical supplies and portable radios
   • Approximately $83,000 spent on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
2. Grant from State Senator Hugh Farley $10,000 for Defibrillators
   • Used to purchase five defibrillators
   • Defibrillators disbursed amongst the district in each fire company
3. Grant from State Senator Hugh Farley $25,000 for Generators
   • Some of the grant will be used to purchase portable generators
   • Some of the grant will be put towards a generator for the Greenfield Center firehouse
4. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
   • Matching grant amount of $1000
   • Used to purchase forest-fire equipment, including shovels, axes and Indian tanks (backpacks that carry water)
5. Adirondack Trust "Wal-Mart Challenge" Grant
   • Smaller grant totaling $1700
   • Undecided use of grant: some ideas include some radios or office computer equipment
6. Oliver Merlin Foundation Greenfield Center Grant
   • Grant focused on obtaining firefighting rescue tools including: a thermal imaging camera (valued around $5000) and portable radios
7. Oliver Merlin Foundation Middle Grove Grant
   • Grant focused on obtaining FAST (Firefighter Assist Search Team) equipment
   • Includes various hand tools and portable radios
8. Private Citizen Sponsored Fitness Grant
   • Grant aimed at purchasing fitness equipment to improve health and fitness of Greenfield Fire District firefighters.
   • Grant currently in the research phase
9. Homeland Security Fire Prevention Grant
   • Targeted at creating a database of handicap and otherwise special considerations people in our district which special needs for evacuation/rescue.
   • Made it to final round, but was refused
10. SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) Homeland Security Grant
    • Grant targeted covering the initial five year cost of LOSAP program
    • Denied by Department of Homeland Security