Budget Board Puts Hold on Spending for Cop Cars, School-Security Cameras
Proposals from the East Providence Police Department for vehicle replacement and secondary school security equipment stalled for at least two weeks.
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The budget commission pushed off two East Providence Police Department requests for spending for at least two weeks last Thursday, Jan. 31, at its biweekly meeting. Both will be back on the agenda on Feb. 14.
The first request was for a vehicle-replacement program that would use approximately $1.8 million of the asset-forfeiture cash received by East Providence in the Google settlement from the federal justice department.
The second request was for using a much smaller amount of cash -- about $42,000 to extend a contract with Dane Tech, Inc. of Johnston to add video surveillance and access-control equipment at the secondary schools. See Patch story.
The vehicle replacement program "would take care of all the years of neglect” to a fleet of vehicles that City Manager Peter Graczykowski described as in “pretty rough shape.”
The vehicles all need to be replaced, he told the budget commission, because of excessive mileage or repairs.
It was because of the years of neglect that the budget board asked first for a five-year replacement plan before it approves the purchases.
“It doesn’t want this to happen again,” said Graczykowski, who represents the city on the budget board. “It does support using the asset-forfeiture money for the purchases.”
The replacement vehicles would be purchased in six phases over the next six months, according to the proposal by East Providence Police Chief Joseph Tavares. All of the vehicles would be purchased by July 1 using competitive state bid list pricing.
The vehicles include five command staff vehicles:Ford Explorer XLT 4X4s; detective staff vehicles: Ford Taurus sedans, Ford Explorers and Ford Escapes; administrative staff vehicles: Ford Explorer, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Suburban, two Ford Taurus’s, and an F-150 4x4 super cab; department support vehicles: Chevrolet K3500HD stake body truck, Chevy 3500 truck, Ford E-350/12 passenger van, Suburban 4x4 IMP, a Ford F250 prisoner transport vehicle and two Harley Davidson motorcycles; patrol, traffic vehicles: 23 Ford Crown Victorias; vice unit vehicles: 4 SUVs and a surveillance vehicle.
The school-security cameras would be purchased with a federal grant that has to be spent by March 31 or the city will lose the money. That sparked some concern at the meeting that the city could lose the money with any long delay.
“We just need to get competitive bids,” said Graczykowski. “We already have the specifications. I think we have plenty of time. We can make it happen if we do it quickly.”
East Providence Det. Lt. Michael David, who presented the school-security proposal, agreed after a bit of consternation at and right after the meeting.
“We will get this done,” David said. “These measures will make our schools safer, and we will continue to plan and take advantage of any resources that will help protect our students in the future.”
Jack
8:29 am on Monday, February 4, 2013
Why do we need Explorer 4X4s that are costly in gas and repairs. We need that truck to give out speeding tickets? The police does a great job of that in Taurus and Crown Vics. This city does not need Suburbans and Explorers. The Rhode Island State Police use Chevy Mailibus but East Providence needs 4x4s. This is an example of how this city just can't figure out budgets and cost saving measures that will last long term.
Honest Abe
9:40 am on Monday, February 4, 2013
There must be some money left from Google to purchase a few Cadillac Escalades police cruisers for the men and women in blue (bankers grey).
frank
1:13 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
I think if Jack did some simple reasearch on the internet he could answer his own dumb questions! Then again ignorance is bliss, so they say!
Rags 1
1:38 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
The purchase of adequate vehicles and expenditures should be left to the professionals who have researched and placed a need.
Some years ago, then City Manager Flynn with pressure from the City Council, held over car replacement for one year. These vehicles that run 24/7 had very high milage, repairs thru the roof, and were almost condemed by the Registry as being unsafe for the road. Wheels were falling off on chases.
Proper safety equipment and personnel tools must be current and safe for responce to the public need and for the employees. We are not a third world city, especially if the money is there for that purpose.
Although I generally support the Buidget Commission on many issues, on this this one they are off base. Not one of them ever gave out a parking tag.
Let those we pay do their jobs.
El Stupido
2:04 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
Officer Frank. What internet research did you do? Do the State Police drive Chevy Malibus or Impalas? That would be YES! Do 4X4 Explorers get worse gas milage than cars? That would be YES! Now who is dumb and ignorant? Things that make you go hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
C
7:15 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
They drive Caprices not Malibus or Impalas
frank
9:33 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
jack aka el stupido, why don't you stick to one screen name. The State Police have the new Chevy's along with the old crown vic's (which are no longer made), Dodge Chargers (both marked and unmarked) Chevy Suburbans and Tahoes, Ford Explorers (old style and new) Ford Taurus (old style and new) and many many more different types of vehicles. Ford no longer makes the Crown Victoria. The Taurus and Explorer are the new police vehicles and are not that much different. If you followed other articles and did your own research you would know this. As a tax payer I do follow and research the full facts for myself. The answer to your last question would be, "YOU"
Just the Facts
12:28 am on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Both the Taurus and Explorer ride on the same chassis. The Explorer just has a heavier suspension. Not that these facts will sway the uneducated in the room.
Susan
7:48 am on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
It would be nice to see the facts. How much these vechicles will each cost and also their gas milage ratings, estimated yearly costs for maintance, repairs and fuel. It seems that an Exploreer is a much more expensive vehicle than a Taurus, Charger or Impala and also more expensive to repair. Can they post the bid sheets/specifications for these vehicles?
Jack
8:58 am on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
I do believe that Ford Explorers are on full frames. They have larger towing capacities due to this. They also have larger engines. Any all wheel or four wheel drive vehicles use much more fuel and require more maintance. The Taurus has a smaller engine, transmission has a different ratio and is front wheel drive with a unibody construction. This might be similar to the Escape. The base price of a Explorer and Taurus are much different to start with too. Can anyone say the Explorer is more fuel efficient than a Taurus? Multiply the difference with the number of vehicles and the yearly cost of each vehicle. I think the long term difference between a fleet of Explorers and Tauruses would buy you a few more Tauruses for the fleet.
Just the Facts
9:50 am on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Regardless to what you "believe". As stated before, they both ride on the same unibody chassis. Both are available w/ several engine configuratons as well as all wheel or front wheel drive powertrains. The wheel base is identical as well. Please actually do some research before posting. I'm not a cop or a mechanic and it took me all of 15min to confirm the above statement. http://www.ford.com/fordpoliceinterceptor/#/models/utility
Jack
10:26 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
You are not a cop or a mechanic but probably a police officer. You are so educated with all your research you did on the Ford web site for police cars! Who else would know about that web site! I drive a Explorer and didn't know about it, but than again, I am not a cop or a mechanic. Thanks, site was very informative!
Just the Facts
11:20 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
This link actually gives you a little more detail. http://roadwarrior.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/15267/goodbye-crown-victoria-hello-smaller-but-more-powerful-police-interceptor/
Taxpayer
2:39 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
What happened to all the millions received in the google.com prescription drug lawsuit E Prov police were awarded for just the departments use?
Taxpayer
2:48 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
I wish we the people could get an third party outside business with nothing to gain to look over the fleet of vehicles the city now has and give their opinion of the shape of these so called wreaks the police are driving now!
I feel the department just want "new" vehicles at our expense! I'd like to ride around in a new vehicle also but with this cities taxes going up EVERY year I just can't afford it. Just make due with the fleet we have!! God knows we have plenty of police,enough they can do foot patrol if need be.lol