CAPE MAY POINT — Borough Commission is considering options for disposing of a 1997 fire engine, which the National Fire Protection Association no longer deems safe.
The Cape May Point Volunteer Fire Company received a new engine this past summer, a process that began two years ago, Volunteer Fire Company President Lance Lipset said Aug. 20.
The company serves Cape May Point and portions of Lower Township and provides automatic mutual aid to the borough of West Cape May. It is solely responsible for raising most of its funds, often through various community drives and events.
The borough does not fund the company but does purchase the equipment. Volunteers pay operational expenses and are required to upgrade equipment to keep up with technology.
Public Works Supervisor Bill Gibson said the borough has two options: sell on GovDeals or donate to the fire school.
“The going rates aren’t very high; you’re talking $10,000 [or] $15,000 if you’re lucky,” Gibson said. “The purpose of giving it to [the fire school] is that they just use it for training.”
Gibson added that the fire school has two donated trucks, one in decent shape and one that needs to be towed out of there.
“The thing with the fire school is they don’t charge us for training and [in] some communities, counties it costs $3,800 to send somebody through fire school,” Gibson said. “Our county does not charge us, mainly because we do a lot of fundraising for them and donate to the school.”
If the borough donated the truck and one of the company’s trucks had to go out for service, Gibson said they could borrow the donated truck for protection while the other is being fixed, and then take it back.
Deputy Mayor Elise Geiger said the borough needs to have two trucks.
“Mainly, the two trucks are for keeping our fire insurance rate down for all of our taxpayers,” Gibson said, adding that when the insurance company does fire rating for the borough, agents check the pump inspections, the number of available trucks and their pumping capacity.
“It’s also why we do automatic municipal aid with West Cape May and Cape May City on structure fires, because if we had a structure fire, they’re automatically coming with a ladder truck,” Gibson said. “This way, the borough doesn’t have to purchase a ladder truck for $2 million or what they’re going for now.”
Geiger noted that having access to the truck if they were down a vehicle was an advantage.
“So, if I’m hearing you, the sales price is somewhat depressed for a 30-year-old truck,” Geiger said. “I think in my opinion, the donation shows that we’re a good team player and it’s goodwill toward the county, who we will be using for grants and so forth in the future.”
Commissioner Suzanne Yunghans said she liked that the borough could borrow the truck if the need arose.
“We keep our trucks in good condition, which is wonderful, right?” she said. “That makes it valuable for the fire school.”
Gibson said the borough and fire company maintain their equipment, and the 2009 truck would be put in the second-truck position.
“It will come out if we need a water supply and we’re going to do the main firefighting with the first truck,” he said. “Keeping the second/middle-age truck is to maintain our cheap insurance for the taxpayers.”
Geiger asked Gibson to work on the paperwork needed to donate the truck. He said that the contract can include language that the borough transfers ownership but retains the option to borrow the truck if needed.
“Us little guys here down at the bottom, we need some credit for being a good team player for the county,” Geiger said, adding her appreciation to the fire company and reminding people of the importance of donations.
– By RACHEL SHUBIN/For the Cape May Star and Wave
