Fire Apparatus For Sale

Council and Fire Department Hold Meeting to Save Ladder Truck

Last night, Borough President Chris Schiano told fire department members from all three hose companies that Council would like to see the situation resolved.

“We are open to any suggestions and any ideas they have,” Schiano said.

Jerry Shuster, speaking on behalf of Kittanning Hose Company #1, wanted to “clear the air” about rumors surrounding the history of the purchase of the ladder truck and its current disposition.

“Basically, I think we start with the purpose for bringing up the truck for sale in the first place. We’re hearing all kinds of stories as to how the truck was purchased, what was promised, what wasn’t promised, how the money is to be spent, where the money was coming from. I think we need to clear the air there first and then we can move on from there.” 

“There are people who are sitting on Council now that were not here when the truck was purchased and there has been some misdirection as to how it came about,” Shuster said.

Councilman Tom Close said the issue is money, not rumors.

” I don’t even think that is important. The important fact is that we have it. How it came about or why we got it isn’t important. We are getting very close and very fast to the point where we can’t afford anything. That is the simple fact. How we can afford it. No one knows better than you because you (Shuster) worked on the budget often enough that you know that it is not the greatest of shape.”

Shuster said that one rumor was circulating that Hose Company #1 had made promises to make payments on the truck of approximately $100,000, which he denied.

“I can absolutely assure you that the fire company didn’t have dime-one at the time. I was president of the fire company then. The fire company never intended at that point of time to commit to something we didn’t have.”

However, Councilman Dick Reedy disagreed with Shuster and said he would like to see videos from the council meetings where the $100,000 commitment was discussed. Reedy maintains Hose Company #1 did make such a commitment.   

Schiano disagreed with Reedy.

“I can tell you this, Jerry, and I was president, that I voted for buying it – I never, ever, heard a commitment from Number 1 to pay anything,” Schiano said.

Councilman Tom Close concurred. “It was purchased with the fact the Borough would pay for it. That’s the way it works.

Council and Fire Department Hold Meeting to Save Ladder Truck

Meeting that they intended to put the truck up for sale.

Last night, Borough President Chris Schiano told fire department members from all three hose companies that Council would like to see the situation resolved.

“We are open to any suggestions and any ideas they have,” Schiano said.

Jerry Shuster, speaking on behalf of Kittanning Hose Company #1, wanted to “clear the air” about rumors surrounding the history of the purchase of the ladder truck and its current disposition.

“Basically, I think we start with the purpose for bringing up the truck for sale in the first place. We’re hearing all kinds of stories as to how the truck was purchased, what was promised, what wasn’t promised, how the money is to be spent, where the money was coming from. I think we need to clear the air there first and then we can move on from there.” 

“There are people who are sitting on Council now that were not here when the truck was purchased and there has been some misdirection as to how it came about,” Shuster said.

Councilman Tom Close said the issue is money, not rumors.

” I don’t even think that is important. The important fact is that we have it. How it came about or why we got it isn’t important. We are getting very close and very fast to the point where we can’t afford anything. That is the simple fact. How we can afford it. No one knows better than you because you (Shuster) worked on the budget often enough that you know that it is not the greatest of shape.”

Shuster said that one rumor was circulating that Hose Company #1 had made promises to make payments on the truck of approximately $100,000, which he denied.

“I can absolutely assure you that the fire company didn’t have dime-one at the time. I was president of the fire company then. The fire company never intended at that point of time to commit to something we didn’t have.”

However, Councilman Dick Reedy disagreed with Shuster and said he would like to see videos from the council meetings where the $100,000 commitment was discussed. Reedy maintains Hose Company #1 did make such a commitment.   

Schiano disagreed with Reedy.

“I can tell you this, Jerry, and I was president, that I voted for buying it – I never, ever, heard a commitment from Number 1 to pay anything,” Schiano said.

Councilman Tom Close concurred. “It was purchased with the fact the Borough would pay for it. That’s the way it works.

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