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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1957-11-18-CEC-min.pdf MEETING OF THE CAPITAL EXPENDITUrES COMM WITH FIRE COMMISSIONERS November 18 , 1957 II A meeting of the Capital Expenditures Committee was held with the Fire Commissioners on November 18k 1957 , at 8 30 p m at the East Lexington Fire Station Those present for the C .E Comm were Sanborn C Brown, chairman, and Rosemary Fitzgerald, with "`abelle Tucker acting as secretary Those present for the Fire Commissioners were George Sheldon, W.IIiFM Fitzgerald, and uarold Roeder Mr. Sheldon outlined the proposed campital expenditures for the fire department for the neLt five years 1958 Theresent ambulance should be replaced this year because ( 1) present is a fair amount of equity left in it - some small town in the western part of the state ill buy it second hand ( 2) There is a fair amount of repair work coming up The am- 01" bulance has been 25 - 30, 000 miles, but this is equivalent '0-Ow?, 50000�a5 , ctual wear and tear on the motor, since the �$p0� motot is kept running while the ambulance is waiting on calls For these two reasons the Fire Commissioners believe that there will be no economy in keeping the present ambulance longer Last year the Cap Exp Comm recommended the purchase of the new ambulance, but it was turned down by the town meeting Replacement of Engine #3 Mr Brown asked if the replacement for Engine #3 ( first estimated in 1951)" at 0_6 , 300 , and in 1954 at 417 ,000) would still cost 0.8 ,000 Mr Roeder thiought 418,000 was about right Engine #3 was built on a second hand chassis in 1940 and has had ex- tensive wear in the fires on the Great Meadow 41.36,ooa 1959 Purchase of Ladder Truck Thi is an item which has been ma- the report edr two or three years Previously the Fire Com- missioners had wanted to repair the present ladder truck (boutht in 1946) for 9j8000 , but the selectmen preferred to have them wait and get a new truck The present one is over 10 years old ( half its life is gone) , and its ladder may go anytime. A ladder truck is needed in Lexington even though there are no buildings over three stories tall because ( 1) it is used in traffic - the engine can park in the street and raise the ladder over parked cars; and ( 2) Hancock School, portions of the Junior High School, and the Grey Nuns Building would re- quire the use of a ladder if there were a fire New Chief' s car. Following the system of trading the chief' s car every three years, this will be the year to trade Last time they traded for 41200 ; they think 0.500 will cover it this time. 0‘0,006 1960. New Fire Station. A committee was appointed at the last town meeting to report to the town meeting in 1958 on the question of whether or not a new fire station is needed Mr Roeder and r -Ntbgeiakt are on the committee, which has been making a study of the Marrett Road area - the number of homes and number of alarms , etc Only a few test runs ( time elapsing between Page 2 MEETING OF THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMM WITH FIRE COMMISSIONERS November 18 , 1957 leaving the station and arriving at certain destinations) reivaing to be made, after which the committee will meet and make a decision about the desirability of the new station. ( about mid-December) . There will be time fur the Cap Exp Comm to rind out about the committee' s decision before its report must go to press. ivlr hoeder mentioned that the Fire Commissioners originally requested the new station for 1957 ; he felt that there should be some note in the C .E.0 report explaining the three year lapse, in the event that *Wm his committee and the C .E C recommend the new station Cor 1960. Mr. Brown read from the 1957 report of the C.E.C. : the committee did not recommend the new fire station for 1957; 1960 was thought to be a better year. Mr. Sheldon and Mr. Roeder asked that the item for the new fire station, if approved by the fire committee and the C.E.C. for 1960, be noted as follows: n * originGlly requested fon 1957". 1960: Radio Station The Fire Commissioners feel that it woul4be (cont.)an advantage for the Fire Department to have its own rad o station and separate wavelength, instead of being on the same wavelength with the police, public works department, and the town of Bedford. (Lincoln and Manchester are also on the same wavelength with Lexington and Bedford, but little interference is experienced from them.) A good deal of interference comes from Bedford - partly because Bedford calls come in more clearly than Lexington' s, and partly because Bedford, having newly installed its system, is using it a good deal for calls of little consequence. Perhaps reception of Lexington' s calls can be improved by putting the antenna on top of the new water tower when it is completed. This still leaves interfernce from Lexington police and public works departments to contend with. The trend in this area is far the fire departments in several adjacent towns to be on the same wavelength; Belmont and Waltham are now on the same wave length, and find it helpful when the calls involve fires requiring mutual aid. (The fire chief in Belmont finds it to his advantage to hear Waltham►s calls - if a mutual aid call turns out to be a false alarm he can call his trucks back before they reach the destination.) It is estimated that $2500 would buy the main station, antenna, and change- over of crystals in the fire dept. sets. There were several questions from members of the C.E.C. about the separate radio station. Mr. Brown pointed out that Mr. Gayer, Supt of Public Works had commented that (1) the Public Works men had always gotten off the air when the fire department wanted to use the station; and (2) the auxiliary firemen, are public works men anyway, and it was an advantage ' for them to be on the same wavelength and hear the fire calls. Er. Roeder answered that only 3 men are simu].ianeouily em- ployed by Public Wor}}sss and as auxiliary firemen$, and that only 2 of them couldlrespond to a fire call. Page 3 MEETING OF THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMM. WITH FIRE COMMISSIONERS November 18, 1957 1960: Radio Station (continued) : cont) Mr. Brown asked if it might be expected that the police from different towns might be assigned to the same wavelength in the future. Mr. Roeder thought not - there was not as much consolidation and mutual aid among police departments as among fire departments. Lexington, for instance gives mutual aid to Arlington, Belmont, Concord, Burlington and Waltham. Mrs. Fitzgerald remarked that the Fire Commissioners seemed happier this year than last about the prospect of being on the same wavelength with fire depts. in other towns. Mr. Roeder replied that they now have more interference from the Public Works Dept; it was true that there would be many calls with the other system, but they would all have to do with fires; it would be of special advantage in mutual aid. 1961: Replacement of Engine #4 with t lighter piece of equipment for brush or grass fires - estimated cost, •1J,000. Mr. Brown asked if this would be the last of the non-standard equip- ment? Mr. Roeder said no, that Engine #5 (the present brush piece, built in 1948) , would still be used. Mrs. Fitzgerald asked if there would be room enoughtin the present station for all the trucks, if a new station were not built. Mr. Roeder answered yes, that they would put the ladder truck up town, and the lighter one at E. Lexington; also #3 would be gone when the new engine came. If a new station were built it would be planned to be adequate for the next 25 - 30 years, not just for present requirements; it would be a 2-door station housing one piece and with room for more. Also, all the running cards would be changed if a new station were built. Mr. Brown asked if the ambulance could be housed with the police department, making more room in the headquarter stattion. Mr. Sheldon replied that the police are not interested in running the ambulance; the firemen% are trained and have built a tradition of operating it - and by doing a good job have earned the right to operate it forever. The police would have to have training before they could run it; also, it is an advantage for the firemen% to operate it because they can leave immediately on a call, whereas the police might be out on the road. The firemen% take apt pride in their work, go over their First Aid and recusitation once a week, have saved lives add received commendation for their operation of the ambulance. 4iacoo 1962: Drill Tower: Mr. Sheldon said that the request for the drill tower had been put off until 1962, when the town might be more citified. Mr. Brown noted that the drill tower had been re- quested year after year, always at the end of the list, and wondered if it were to be taken less seriously. Mr. Sheldmi replied that the Fire Dept. needed other things more, but, having gotten them (hopefully), would like, with a larger force, in five years to have more drill and operate more like Belmont. Page 4 MEETING OF THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMM. WITH FIRE COMMISSIONERS November 18, 1957 1962: Drill Tower (continued) : cont) Also, there is a possibility of the state establishing a training school in Framingham, to which the various towns could send their firemen% for a certain number of weeks of training. The Fire Commissioners will know in about a year if the state programis going to be available; if it is, they will send men there for training, and the drill tower will not be requested. Mr. Roeder pointed out that if the drill tower is requested, it will be the last piece of con- struction for some time; after that it will be a matter of replacing equipment. „ i/50' Replacement of Chief's car occurs again in 1962, according to the system of trading it in every three years. Mr. Sheldon stated that if Filene's proposed shopping center is built on the Swenson land there will be no change in estimates for equipment or construction; the Fire Commissioners have had underwriters out to survey the problem, and they could see no need for additional equipment to service the shopping center, which would be of first class construction. However, if a housing development were put on this property, there would be an increased potential for fires and more equipment might eventeally be needed. The Fire Commissioners have sent this information to Mr. Grindle of the Planning Board, per his request. The meeting ended with a tour of the East Lexington station, including and. inspection of Engine #3 and a demonstration of the switch-over from regular electric power to use of a generator, in case of failure of electricity. 774 •, a s Ma i'nntng#un ,girt Departmrnt y HEADQUARTERS From the Office of 45 Bedford Street BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS Lexington 73, Mass. P O. Box 150 November 18, 1957 Capital Expenditures Committee Town Office Building Lexington 73, Mass. We are listing below requests for the needs of the Fire Department for the next five years. Explanations for each year, on each item, are explained below. 1958 Replacement of Engine #3 . $18,000.00 Replacement of this vehicle has been planned by the Board since 1951. Present Eng.#3 was a used 1940 Dodge chassis when purchased by our Dept. , thus we feel that a replacement will be necessary in 1958. Ambulance . . . . . . . . . S8,000.00 This vehicle will be 7 years old in the Spring, and it must be traded now if any reasonable allowance is expected. A major motor overhaul, body repairs, and new shock absorbers would be required if the ambu- lance is not replaced. 1959 Replacement of Ladder Truck . . . . '$36,000.00 It is the opinion of the Board that by 1959 a new ladder truck will be needed by the Town to give proper protection to its growing needs. Chiefts Car .. . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1500.00 We have traded this car on a three year basis because this is the most economical basis. 1960 New Fire Station . $60,000.00 The third station was requested for 1957 and, in the opinion of the Board of Fire Commissioners, was needed at that time. The matter is now being investigated by a com- mittee, which will report at the Spring Town Meeting. The continued growth of the - Town makes the third station more necessary each year. •774 ^f�� y�4*�N.} *�}�.} �ay�•p » N �}y}} y�'} a j,."p1 ., $ Eningtun 3i `r E partm rut air 2rttts,ylA' HEADQUARTERS From the Office of 45 Bedford Street BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS Lexington 73, Mass. P O. Box 150 November 18, 1957 Requests for Fire Department - Page 2 L 1960 (continued) Radio Station . $ 2,500.00 With the increased number of sets in use in the police Dept. and the Highway Dept. it will be necessary to have our own channel for emergency purposes. 1961 Replace Engine #4 $12,000.00 This was the piece of equipment built by I the boys in 1946 and we feel it should be I replaced. Possibly with a light truck for brush and grass fire work. 1962 Drill Tower. . . . . . 012,000.00 It is anticipated that a drill tower will be needed to carry out proper training of the personnel. Chief' s Car . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . $ 1,500.00 The usual replacement on a three year basis. Respectfully submitted, BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS Geo. C. Sheldon Chairman