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Here’s The Scoop…. THE VFD’S …. OVER $100,000.00 Purchase ….

July 21, 2009 by Barbara

REALLY BIG EXPENDITURE….TO PLAY WITH….

We are hearing by way of searches on the net that the new 102′ VFD Ladder Truck was purchased for over $100,00.00 by the VFD…
We hear the Chief has said the VFD will be asking the Town to pay for it in full or part of it!…
We hear that the VFD thinks it will be called on to provide mutual aid to Pompano Beach and Hillsboro now that we have the truck…
We hear the VFD according to the Chief will now use it for “training” at highrises…
Below is am e-mal received after the purchase was posted by a faithful reader…
Barbara, the ladder truck was certified in February of this year according to the company. So, it meets the ISO standard of 5 years in that aspect and LBTS should receive credit. Platforms are inherently larger and les s Here is some ladder operation info to give you an idea of what should be considered on incident scenes.maneuverable. Most issues with aerial device access have to be addressed prior to building construction by Municipal Building Departments with foresight. You will never get the full-elevation vertically of any ladder truck unless it is basically parked with the turntable within twenty feet of the building you are trying to access. That is if what you are trying to access is directly overhead and not “set back.” Obviously, ladders do not bend around building corners or roofs and if this happens there are bigger issues that the fire personnel have to contend with then just the incident. They basically have brought their own emergency with them. (That’s fire department humor for you.)Regardless, there appears to be relatively low miles and hours on the vehicle so it may have been a good find. But, you never know what other issues may be involved with a twenty-year old truck. It is a fraction of a cost of a new rig but it is almost an antique when looked at as a motor vehicle. It is kind of funny where most people would have an issue with buying a twenty year old car for personal use. However, when it comes to the safety of the civilians and firefighters people will settle for less.

BC- Don’t hold your breath for Pompano/Hillsboro to call the VFD ….

BC- We were told that the ladder trucks of this size could not be used at most of our highrises due to the underground parking and the limited access to get close…

BC- This should be something…if the VFD actually come to the Town and asks us to pay for the truck…Right after we heard that the BSO Chief was “fiscally irresponsible”…The TM is on record from the outset of the VFD taking over informing the taxpayers that we must own all out equipment…justifying the payment for the 1st truck the VFD bought after Oct. 1st…She was mute when Mc-VFD bought the 2nd on…and sat back as McIntee told us all his favorite line…”It won’t cost the taxpayers a dime”…saying the VFD had voted to buy the second apparatus on their own….So what exactly will the the TM do with this white elephant after her admonishment and termination of Scott Gooding and withholding funding for the renovations of the BSO offices?…All eyes will be on her when this is put forth on the dais….How in the world can the VFD justify a purchase of this amount with no RFPs going out …no foresight to seek out other options such as grants and/or stimulus for a newer ladder truck being discussed ahead of this major purchase. This is the problem we find ourselves facing with dealing with a private contractor…( this comment coming from Comm. Dodd upon hearing of the purchase) who is in or out of our decision making arena  depending on sticking the proverbial finger in the wind!…Can you even imagine the “2-Hats” attempting to introduce a return of the McIntee referendum for a lifetime of VFD “purchases” like this?…If the information is correct and the VFD and the TM now want the Town to pay for the truck…will the “2-Hats” vote on it?…(Ethics Comm?) If they do not and the vote goes down 2-1 (Mayor/ Dodd – Clottey?) then the Town does not own the ladder truck…The CIC-Mc-Furth Gang will play up the vote for the next election as not backing the VFD but this election it will fall on deaf ears……. AND again why in the world are we to pay in 2009/2010 a $130 fire assessment (compared to Pompano / Davie…$108/$104) and paying the VFD a 4% increase when they are flush with monies?…YIKES!…

There is definitely more to come….


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