New ambulance purchase approved in Brockport

Following many months of investigation and bid specification, members of Brockport's Ambulance Replacement Committee came to the Village of Brockport board with their recommendation for a replacement ambulance.

The village's ambulance corps has been researching a replacement for the 1996 Type III ambulance over the past two years because it has experienced increasing vehicle maintenance costs and is at the end of its effective life. The committee met with six ambulance manufacturers, inspected several demonstration models and developed a detailed and inclusive list of specifications for a new ambulance.

At the May 16 board meeting a proposal to purchase a 2006 Horton Type III ambulance at a price not to exceed $132,376 was presented and unanimously accepted by board members.

Trustee Norman Knapp, who also serves with the department, said that the Horton was the most expensive of the bids received. "With the exceptions the other vendors brought forward, their ambulances just didn't meet the specifications set forth by the committee," he said.

It will take close to a year before the village takes delivery of the new ambulance. Treasurer Ian Coyle said there is money in the budget for the purchase.

In other matters the board:

•Heard from Assistant Fire Chief Larry Vaughan that the department has responded to 335 fire calls and 613 ambulance calls year-to-date. "Unfortunately, we're on track to break last year's records," he said.

•Code Enforcement Officer Scott Zarnstorff reported his department did 140 inspections for April. He also reported that fees for applications for building permits and inspections were up $4,000 over the prior year.

•Department of Public Works Provisional Superintendent Harry Donahue reported that the road work on Carolin Drive would be completed, weather permitting, by the end of June.