Grant to Pay For Over 90% of Fire Truck

At Monday night’s Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting, some good news was delivered to the residents of South Orange.  The recent grant for $665,000, , will pay for almost 95% of the new fire truck.

Last month, Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ) announced that the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded a new federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to the (SOFD) in the amount of $665,000.  This is the fourth Firefighter Investment Response Enhancement (F.I.R.E.) Act AFG grant to be awarded to the South Orange Fire Department, making a total of $887,735 awarded to the department since 2001.

Markey applied for the grant last summer.  It’s a matching grant, meaning that the federal government will be paying for $665,000 and the village will only be paying for $35,000.  , the South Orange Board of Trustees authorized the purchase of a new truck, as the current truck has been in use for 24 years and has been plagued by problems lately.  Trustee Deborah Davis-Ford voiced her pleasure about the grant last night.

“The last few years, like all municipalities, including South Orange, the budget is a real real challenge for us to meet all our needs, and at the same time, keep a hold on our taxes,” said Davis-Ford.  “This will go a long way for 2012 in helping us for that.”

Since last summer, Markey had been discussing with manufacturers the best way to fulfill South Orange’s needs, without raising the price too significantly.  He managed to get the truck lowered to around $700,000.

Markey and the Trustees also made a note to thank Congressman Pascrell for his efforts.  Pascrell, who will no longer be representing South Orange following a map shift in New Jersey, helped preserve the AFG program in congress.

"I have so much admiration for (Pascrell)," said Markey.  "I think he represented (South Orange) well."

The BOT formally accepted Markey's request to accept the grant.  Since it has a performance time of 12 months, the truck needs to be purchased in that time.