Fire truck purchase spurs clash in NY

By Thomas J. Prohaska
The Buffalo News

LOCKPORT, N.Y. — Federal authorities are not investigating the city's bidding process for a new fire truck, but that didn't stop Mayor Michael W. Tucker and Alderman Andrew D. Chapman from exchanging unpleasantries in recent days.

Corporation Counsel John J. Ottaviano, who has previously said the bidding process was legal, said Monday he will submit a written report to the Common Council.

He also said the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which gave the city a $247,500 grant toward a new truck, "is not investigating our bid specs, nor did they require a written report."

But he said FEMA is interested in hearing more about Chapman's claim that the specifications were calculated to produce a successful bid for a dealership that sells a particular make of pumper truck.

Tucker said Ottaviano told him that the city was entitled to an extension of at least six months beyond last Friday's stated deadline in FEMA's grant terms for action to buy a new truck.

Fire Chief Thomas J. Passuite had pushed the Council for action at the July 7 meeting, but the matter was pulled from the agenda after Chapman questioned the ethics of the bidding.

Passuite wanted to accept a bid of $529,000 from Churchville Fire Equipment, which sells a truck made by Pierce Manufacturing. The other bid was $80,000 less but for a different make of truck. That bidder, Gorman Emergency Vehicles, took formal exception to the bidding rules.

Chapman said that the bid specifications asked for a particular type of pumping apparatus that is trademarked by Pierce.

Tucker said Passuite and other Fire Department officers built up the specifications over three attempts at bidding.

"Some of the questions [Chapman] asked raised eyebrows at FEMA. Now we have to answer those questions," Tucker said.

"I thought some of the questions that were asked shouldn't have been asked in open session. It put the city in jeopardy."

"I don't know how else I could have done it. I don't know any other way," said Chapman, R-4th Ward.

He noted that before he presented the results of his research on the bids, he asked if he should go ahead, and Alderman Joseph C. Kibler told him to make his presentation.

It contained a finding that the city could have bought a Pierce demonstrator model for $300,000, and Kibler said a used 2005 Pierce truck was available for $254,000. But Passuite insisted on a new vehicle.

Chapman said he won't vote for awarding the truck bid to Churchville.

"I don't have a problem with people asking questions and having a healthy dialogue," said Tucker, who has clashed with Chapman before but hadn't had a flare-up with him recently.

But the mayor said Chapman's allegation of impropriety was "a reflection on me. I didn't care for the innuendo."

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