MANSFIELD — Alomar Davenport joined in a Mansfield City Council unanimous vote Tuesday evening to approve a $1.4 million purchase of two new fire trucks.
But the 4th Ward representative, in his second month as chair of council’s finance committee, made it clear he didn’t appreciate the fact local lawmakers had little advance notice of the request — though it may save the city about $96,000 by acting quickly.
“I have made it a point of emphasis, that we as council, our core responsibility is to convey what the community is feeling to our administration,” Davenport said during a committee meeting that launched a three-hour council session.
“And when we have pieces of legislation, where we are asked to vote on them on the day that they appear, we circumvent that process,” Davenport said.
“We lose out on the ability for constituents to weigh in on things that we are voting on. Now of course there are times where we have to do this. But it still does not change the fact that we are taking out the voting public. We’re taking out the public at large and we’re taking their voice away from them.”
The first-term council member said he was especially concerned legislators were being asked to approve a $1.4 million purchase “and the public will have zero say.”
At issue was a request the city’s Board of Control gave “consensus” approval to on Jan. 25, pending the determination of the best way to pay for the two new Piece Impel Pumper Fire Trucks.
The issue was not brought up by the city administration during the City Council meeting on Feb. 1. On Feb. 12, Mayor Tim Theaker told Richland Source the city had not yet determined the best way to pay for the trucks.
The legislation for City Council included language that said “lease-to-own” over a maximum of 10 years and also “pay within 30 days of the contract signing.”
The mayor said Finance Director Linn Steward was still examining the best financial options for the city.
Fire department Chief Steve Strickling, joined by Scott Arnett from the finance department, told council on Tuesday that his department plans to finance the purchase over 10 years and will pay for it from his capital equipment budget.
“I want to make it clear (council) definitely has a choice in this. You don’t have to do it at this time. You have the right to act on it as you see fit,” the chief said, adding he had identified the trucks earlier in January for possible purchase.
Strickling said he was notified Jan. 24 by Atlantic Emergency Solutions, based in Manassas, Va., that the company planned a 7.5-percent price increase Feb. 1 due to rising material costs, prompting him to request the Control Board’s approval.
Strickling said company officials told him they would hold the trucks for MFD at the lower price, pending council approval. He said the trucks would arrive in about 16 months fully equipped, save for a hydraulic rescue tool, radio and computer.
The chief said his department’s capital budget can make an estimated $160,000 annual payment over the next 10 years for the trucks, a line item fueled by fees the department charges to transport patients.
Arnett said the “magic number” for annual transport revenue is $1.8 million. He said the department earned $2.1 million in 2021, including around $200,000 in an annual contract with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to transport inmate patients from the Mansfield Correctional Institution and the Richland Correctional Institution.
“We had a really good year last year,” Strickling said. “I don’t anticipate every year’s going to be that good, and I think we are stretching that account to the max, but we should be OK to make this purchase.
“At this time, it doesn’t look like we’re going to have to impact American Rescue Plan Act dollars with this purchase,” the chief said.
Strickling told City Council that the trucks are needed to replace aging equipment, which would be moved into the city’s reserve fleet.
Arnett said the city had received one quote from a financial institution regarding the 10-year loan and expected to receive another this week. He said the interest rates were lower than he had anticipated.
Davenport closed the finance committee by again expressing displeasure the request was being approved quickly, without more than one reading.
“We don’t like late (legislation),” he said. “But in this instance, I would prefer a late bill. I would’ve preferred that this would have come to us on Feb. 1 and allow us to let public know what we’re trying to do.
“I say this to all (city) department heads who are listening. In a situation where like this, if it comes down to a late bill versus only having one reading, I personally would prefer a late bill to give us that leeway, to give us that ability to go back to the people that we represent.
“Our vote is not our own. It belongs to the people that we represent, so we should get input from them before making these decisions,” Davenport said.
