At tonight's Salisbury Council meeting expect Mayor Barrie Tilghman's lapdog majority to approve several items with respect to the Salisbury Fire Department. One of these is the declaration of surplus of surplus of three trucks. One truck is eight years old, the other six. While I was unable to find details in the council's briefing book, it is also reported that these two trucks are not even paid for.
Why does the SFD need to replace these trucks and spend over $2.6 million on new equipment? According to Chief David See, the trucks are having repair issues. Could be. However, we have seen the leadership of the SFD be less than honest about purchasing new equipment in the past. Of course, this is OK because "they need their toys" according to Councilman Gary Comegys.
There's one problem in their explanation. According to Chief See, the truck's manufacturer - American LaFrance - "recently declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy" and this caused a delay in getting parts. It is true that American LaFrance, formerly a unit of Freightliner, did enter Chapter 11 - last January. What Chief See neglects to inform council is that the company emerged from Chapter 11 last July and by all reports is operating smoothly.
Oddly enough, the reason for American LaFrance's need to declare Chapter 11 is directly related to Salisbury's difficulty in receiving parts in a timely manner. In bankruptcy filings American LaFrance cites IBM, its ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) vendor at the time, with causing severe operational problems both for the company and in the company's ability to meet the needs of its customers. Once these problems were overcome, the company returned to normal operations and was able to emerge from bankrupcy in only six months.
Given that the SFD is not being completely honest with the public (or council) about its need to declare these trucks surplus, we need to ask - Do the taxpayers really need to pony up for these new trucks?
Besides the less than honest reasoning for declaring these trucks surplus, the public also needs to be aware that the purchase of their replacements is not being handled through the normal competetive bidding process. In all fairness, what the SFD is proposing is perfectly legal due to a loophole in the law.
It should also be noted that when a government body is not attempting to act in the best interests of the taxpayers - a valid assumption when dealing with the Tilghman administration - competetive bidding is meaningless anyway. The bidding specifications can easily be drawn up to provide a heavy advantage to favored vendors.
Note that we are not claiming that this is the case here. We have no evidence of this. What we do know is that the reasons given for replacing this equipment now (months prior to municipal elections and probably a new administration) are riddled with holes. This certainly merits a fuller investigation.
Expect to hear the only two fiscally responsible members of council - Councilwomen Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen -to ask some questions and then be gaveled out of order by Councilwoman Louise Smith. The remaining members will then attempt to justify their actions and immediately do what Mayor Tilghman wants.
Just another council meeting. Spend plenty of money and tell voters that their taxes will have to go up in the spring (after the election, of course).
Why does the SFD need to replace these trucks and spend over $2.6 million on new equipment? According to Chief David See, the trucks are having repair issues. Could be. However, we have seen the leadership of the SFD be less than honest about purchasing new equipment in the past. Of course, this is OK because "they need their toys" according to Councilman Gary Comegys.
There's one problem in their explanation. According to Chief See, the truck's manufacturer - American LaFrance - "recently declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy" and this caused a delay in getting parts. It is true that American LaFrance, formerly a unit of Freightliner, did enter Chapter 11 - last January. What Chief See neglects to inform council is that the company emerged from Chapter 11 last July and by all reports is operating smoothly.
Oddly enough, the reason for American LaFrance's need to declare Chapter 11 is directly related to Salisbury's difficulty in receiving parts in a timely manner. In bankruptcy filings American LaFrance cites IBM, its ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) vendor at the time, with causing severe operational problems both for the company and in the company's ability to meet the needs of its customers. Once these problems were overcome, the company returned to normal operations and was able to emerge from bankrupcy in only six months.
Given that the SFD is not being completely honest with the public (or council) about its need to declare these trucks surplus, we need to ask - Do the taxpayers really need to pony up for these new trucks?
Besides the less than honest reasoning for declaring these trucks surplus, the public also needs to be aware that the purchase of their replacements is not being handled through the normal competetive bidding process. In all fairness, what the SFD is proposing is perfectly legal due to a loophole in the law.
It should also be noted that when a government body is not attempting to act in the best interests of the taxpayers - a valid assumption when dealing with the Tilghman administration - competetive bidding is meaningless anyway. The bidding specifications can easily be drawn up to provide a heavy advantage to favored vendors.
Note that we are not claiming that this is the case here. We have no evidence of this. What we do know is that the reasons given for replacing this equipment now (months prior to municipal elections and probably a new administration) are riddled with holes. This certainly merits a fuller investigation.
Expect to hear the only two fiscally responsible members of council - Councilwomen Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen -to ask some questions and then be gaveled out of order by Councilwoman Louise Smith. The remaining members will then attempt to justify their actions and immediately do what Mayor Tilghman wants.
Just another council meeting. Spend plenty of money and tell voters that their taxes will have to go up in the spring (after the election, of course).
cross posted at Delmarva Dealings
8 comments:
If during the great "Im a volunteer and Im going to do what I want to" war between the vollies and Chief Brezler the vollies hadnt bought junk equipment the city wouldnt be having these problems now. Let them sell sandwiches and pay for the junk.
actually, they can't. back in the early days before the department was apart of the city control. They used to have carnival's etc, etc along the main st. to raise funds, forcing road closures etc etc. The business men of the time complained. It was hurting their business's with road closures. So in the late 20's early 30's The Salisbury Volunteer fire company became a city department which was to be funded by the city so that fundraisers are large scales like carnivals weren't held.
7:43 --
You sound like an insider -- just why are those trucks and engines "junk"?
PS -- why the continued misstatement that the manufacturer is in bankruptcy?
The two newest engines, Engine 16 and Engine 16-1 were bought and delivered under your Chief Brezler. There is only 1 engine that was bought by the vollies during that time and it was Engine 210. Has nothing to do with the vollies.
Those businessmen that complain about the carnivals some many years ago are dead and gone. Its time you boys learn what it is to fund raise and be real volunteers. Step up to the plate and quit your bitching
Insider Outsider who cares junk is junk and the city is stuck with it.
Anon 12:44, The 2 newest engines your referring to were bought and delivered with the current fire chief in office. Brezler was long gone when those 2 pieces were ordered. Just some food for thought...Not trying to get into this battle.
I bet this won't be the last time we see SFD try to get new toys before the election. They know the next mayor won't give in to their wish list. That is IF the citizens of Salisbury vote wisely.
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