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Committee debates merits of vehicle request
By AARON CURTIS
acurtis@palltimes.com
By AARON CURTIS
acurtis@palltimes.com
OSWEGO — A vehicle request by a county department head was scrutinized by the legislative minority prior to getting the go-ahead from the Economic Development and Planning Committee during Tuesday’s meeting.
Dave Turner, director of the county’s Community Development, Tourism and Planning Department, asked for the committee to approve a $23,000 transfer from capital reserve number 146, titled “highway and automotive equipment,” to pay for the vehicle.
Turner explained that the vehicle is needed for the purpose of distributing promotional materials throughout New York state and the Northeast. Other departments, including the Legislature, also use the vehicle for transporting groups to conferences, events and functions when needed.
He added that the vehicle, which recently had its brake line repaired along with a series of other “nickel and dime repairs,” has approximately 73,000 miles of use on it during its 10-year tenure within the county.
Legislator Amy Tresidder, D-Oswego, questioned the purchase.
“73,000 miles doesn’t seem like very many miles to me,” she said, asking Turner if he had documentation reflecting the repairs that have been made and if that total per year adds up to $2,300, she said that amount would warrant replacement.
Turner told Tresidder that he was unsure what the exact cost for repairs to the vehicle were, but noted that the costs were close to that $2,300 figure. He went on to state that the vehicle has experienced more wear than an average vehicle.
“It is used to cart around equipment for the shows, hundreds of boxes of brochures and other equipment — tables and things needed for the trade shows,” he said.
“Do we have the money?” Legislator Art Ospelt, R-Schroeppel, asked County Administrator Phil Church, who pointed out that there were funds available to make the purchase.
Legislator Terry Wilbur, R-Hannibal, asked Turner what would become of the current vehicle if it were replaced. Turner explained that the van would be offered to another department in the county for local use and if no agency expressed interest in the vehicle, it would go to the county’s surplus auction.
Turner went on to further stress the excessive wear the vehicle experiences, noting that the van is used to travel to locations as far away as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland.
Tresidder asked Turner if there is somebody within the department who “crunches the numbers” to establish if it is more viable to pay for repairs or to purchase a new van.
“I’m just wondering if there is any statistical research,” the legislator said.
Turner noted that there was no statistical research in reaching a decision about the van’s replacement, but the conclusion to replace the vehicle was based on user comments and examinations of the van by mechanics.
“I think sometimes statistics make very valuable points ..., and I think that Amy’s point should be considered. But I would like to point out that when you have significant failures such as a brake line — that increases pressures on master cylinders and wheel cylinders,” said Legislator Jack Proud, R-Mexico. “You are talking about the most vital component of the vehicle aside from the engine itself, and the one that can most quickly cause a disastrous accident and maybe even the loss of life.”
Tresidder and fellow Democrat Daniel Farfaglia, of Fulton, voted against the resolution to transfer the funds, while remaining members of the committee, including Ospelt and legislators Louella LeClair, R-Fulton, Morris Sorbello, R-Granby, Daniel LeClair, R-Palermo, and Ronald Sakonyi, R-Constantia, approved the measure.
The resolution for the vehicle purchase will now head to the full Legislature for a vote next month.
acurtis@palltimes.com
OSWEGO — A vehicle request by a county department head was scrutinized by the legislative minority prior to getting the go-ahead from the Economic Development and Planning Committee during Tuesday’s meeting.
Dave Turner, director of the county’s Community Development, Tourism and Planning Department, asked for the committee to approve a $23,000 transfer from capital reserve number 146, titled “highway and automotive equipment,” to pay for the vehicle.
Turner explained that the vehicle is needed for the purpose of distributing promotional materials throughout New York state and the Northeast. Other departments, including the Legislature, also use the vehicle for transporting groups to conferences, events and functions when needed.
He added that the vehicle, which recently had its brake line repaired along with a series of other “nickel and dime repairs,” has approximately 73,000 miles of use on it during its 10-year tenure within the county.
Legislator Amy Tresidder, D-Oswego, questioned the purchase.
“73,000 miles doesn’t seem like very many miles to me,” she said, asking Turner if he had documentation reflecting the repairs that have been made and if that total per year adds up to $2,300, she said that amount would warrant replacement.
Turner told Tresidder that he was unsure what the exact cost for repairs to the vehicle were, but noted that the costs were close to that $2,300 figure. He went on to state that the vehicle has experienced more wear than an average vehicle.
“It is used to cart around equipment for the shows, hundreds of boxes of brochures and other equipment — tables and things needed for the trade shows,” he said.
“Do we have the money?” Legislator Art Ospelt, R-Schroeppel, asked County Administrator Phil Church, who pointed out that there were funds available to make the purchase.
Legislator Terry Wilbur, R-Hannibal, asked Turner what would become of the current vehicle if it were replaced. Turner explained that the van would be offered to another department in the county for local use and if no agency expressed interest in the vehicle, it would go to the county’s surplus auction.
Turner went on to further stress the excessive wear the vehicle experiences, noting that the van is used to travel to locations as far away as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland.
Tresidder asked Turner if there is somebody within the department who “crunches the numbers” to establish if it is more viable to pay for repairs or to purchase a new van.
“I’m just wondering if there is any statistical research,” the legislator said.
Turner noted that there was no statistical research in reaching a decision about the van’s replacement, but the conclusion to replace the vehicle was based on user comments and examinations of the van by mechanics.
“I think sometimes statistics make very valuable points ..., and I think that Amy’s point should be considered. But I would like to point out that when you have significant failures such as a brake line — that increases pressures on master cylinders and wheel cylinders,” said Legislator Jack Proud, R-Mexico. “You are talking about the most vital component of the vehicle aside from the engine itself, and the one that can most quickly cause a disastrous accident and maybe even the loss of life.”
Tresidder and fellow Democrat Daniel Farfaglia, of Fulton, voted against the resolution to transfer the funds, while remaining members of the committee, including Ospelt and legislators Louella LeClair, R-Fulton, Morris Sorbello, R-Granby, Daniel LeClair, R-Palermo, and Ronald Sakonyi, R-Constantia, approved the measure.
The resolution for the vehicle purchase will now head to the full Legislature for a vote next month.
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