Grants finally OK'd for Maine town firetruck

By Terry Karkos
Sun Journal (Lewiston, Maine)

ANDOVER, Maine — Despite recent scrutiny that held up February's $237,000 firetruck money, Andover will get the Federal Emergency Management Agency grant anyway.

Before the money will be released to the town and fire Chief Ken Dixon can order the custom-made pumper truck, there is a 60-day wait as of Thursday pending any appeals of FEMA's decision.

Late Thursday afternoon, Andover selectmen were notified by letter from Brian A. Cowan, director of FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, that the money will be given to the town.

"Our reviews show that no remedial actions are needed for prior AFG awards to the Andover Fire Department," Cowan wrote.

Selectman Susan Merrow was the only board member to return calls Thursday afternoon. Dixon did not return calls seeking comment.

"I'm sure that Ken will be anxious to move forward with the truck purchase, so it is important for the town and selectmen to be clear on the time frame," Merrow said by phone and e-mail on Monday afternoon.

Merrow was the only selectman out of three to object to the FEMA contract, which requires a 5-percent match or $12,500 from the town. Town meeting voters in March gave Dixon another $100,000 to outfit it after approving the grant award.

"I feel that it was fiscally irresponsible to enter a contract for a $350,000 custom truck late after the April 22 selectmen's meeting, which ended in chaos, not to mention knowing that the money would be held up, and/or potentially withdrawn," Merrow said, referring to concerns voiced to FEMA.

Concerns raised by a handful of Andover residents, including Merrow, about the accuracy of Dixon's grant application to replace the department's 1977 engine, were addressed by Cowan in his May 29 letter addressed to Merrow.

Among the issues were:

based on both the predicted location of the firetruck and its response capabilities, the new firetruck wouldn't properly replace the old firetruck;

incorrect fiscal information, including present-day budget elements, town support and funds sources;

inaccurate demographic, geographic, and structural information was provided on the town; and

inaccurate information regarding the fire department itself was provided, specifically the number of trained firefighters and the practical utility of the East Andover station to accommodate the new firetruck.

Cowan said awarding the grant was based on a review of Dixon's answers to questions on the application and his narrative, and a review of the same high-scoring information by fire service peers.

Regarding the first issue, Cowan said the AFG program doesn't require awarded vehicles to occupy the space of the removed vehicle. It also doesn't require that the awarded vehicle of the same type or class as the removed truck.

"Specific to the Andover Fire Department grant award, the location of the new vehicle is not discussed in the application, and, therefore, location could not have affected its competitive standing," Cowan said.

Regarding the fiscal information, Cowan said their reviews couldn't confirm any inaccuracies.

Regarding inaccurate demographic, geographic and structural information, Cowan mostly said that questions asked by concerned citizens were not relevant, or that because Andover's fire department is part of a mutual-aid association as a first responder, that and other similar responsibilities backed up Dixon's statements.

Regarding the number of trained firefighters, Cowan said there is no requirement under the program, Maine's or nationally, that firefighters must be trained or certified by a third party as firefighters.

"In this regard, the Andover Fire Department, unfortunately, is similar to hundreds if not thousands of fire departments across the nation with respect to utilizing undertrained individuals to perform firefighting responsibilities," he said.

With respect to the East Andover station, he said the application doesn't discuss it as the location for the new firetruck, so that wasn't considered in granting the award.

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