City keeps fire truck for now
CONNELLSVILLE – An antique fire truck slated for the auction block will remain in the city’s possession for at least another month. Council agreed Tuesday to reject the lone bid from a Virginia collector after he failed to list the bid sum in his letter to the city.
While the advertisement required a bid amount and a percentage bond, Bill Descutner only included a $600 check with his letter requesting the city turn over the truck to him.
Councilman John Whalen, who oversees the public health and safety department and initially proposed the truck be sold, noted the check amount would indicate that Descutner was bidding $6,000 for the vehicle, but because it was not clearly stated, he would opt to forego taking any further action in the matter.
In October, the panel agreed to accept bids for the 1972 Mack open cab pumper truck in order to clear space for the purchase of a new pumper truck for the city fire department. The department no longer utilizes the truck due to a malfunctioning radiator.
The anticipated sale prompted New Haven Hose Fire Co. and numerous civic organizations and individuals to request the truck be donated to New Haven for preservation.
Company officials have said that the truck is unique because of its open cab and the gasoline-powered engine. Mack discontinued the features after 1972.
Prior to the opening of the bids, three letters from former city officials, the Connellsville Lions Club and the Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce urged council to turn the truck over to New Haven.
“(The Lions Club) feels that the fire truck is a part of the history of Connellsville and would be an asset to the community as an attraction to our own community members,” said George Puskar, club president. “Too many times a part of our history and heritage is lost forever, and we would oppose selling the fire truck.”
Following council’s unanimous vote to reject the bids, Councilman Bruce Jaynes suggested Whalen offer a resolution to turn the vehicle over to New Haven, but Whalen declined, adding that he believed a contract with the company would be necessary before ownership was transferred.
Jaynes said the matter would be revisited in January when a new administration was seated.
In other matters, council also took the following action:
– Approved a traffic committee recommendation to remove stop signs at the intersection of East Green and Sycamore streets and conduct a traffic study in the area to determine if signs are needed at the intersection.
– Agreed to request the state Department of Transportation conduct a traffic study along the north and southbound corridors of Route 119 (Eighth and Ninth streets).
– Authorized a payment of $130 to the Central Westmoreland Council of Governments that will allow the city to participate in a vehicle-purchasing program.
– Agreed to donate $1,500 per year through 2006 to the Connellsville Bicentennial Committee.