With city leaders girding for what they expect to be a dreary budget, officials have told members of Norwich's fire departments that paying to replace the aging fleet is impossible. On Wednesday, the City Council's Public Safety Committee met with chiefs from five of Norwich's six departments and learned their total request for new apparatus would be close to $3 million, including purchasing a new tanker that's the only one in rotation.
Pat Daley, chief of the East Great Plains department, said its Tanker 51 is 28 years old and deteriorating.
He estimates it would cost about $650,000 to replace. As the only tanker in the city's fire fleet, it’s used often in areas with no fire hydrants.
Aaron Westervelt, chief of the Laurel Hill department, told the committee its 33-year-old Engine 61 needs to be replaced immediately. City Manager John Salomone is expected to present his proposed budget April 1. Already, the school district is requesting a $4.6 million increase over current spending levels, a 6.24 percent jump.