SHARON New York firefighters say no to firetruck offer

Sharon is still looking for $219,000 to complete the financing on the truck.
SHARON, Pa. -- Thanks, but it's not necessary.
Sharon's offer to allow the city of New York to buy the new firetruck it has on order to replace equipment lost in the World Trade Center collapse has been politely refused.
Fire Chief Arthur Scarmack said he has received word from New York City that it doesn't need the truck.
The federal government is picking up the tab to replace equipment lost in the collapse of the center's towers, and New York will be ordering exactly the type of equipment it wants, Scarmack said.
Sharon, hearing that the city of Cleveland had made a similar offer, contacted New York last month, offering to allow that city to take over the purchase of a $519,000 firetruck Sharon had ordered.
The truck was to be delivered in February.
Sharon officials said they could order a new 100-foot aerial truck and get it delivered in about 18 months.
The delay might have been to Sharon's benefit.
Budget woes: The city has earmarked $300,000 from a federal Community Development Block Grant for the truck but is still $219,000 short.
No other funding sources are available, and the city doesn't have any money earmarked for the truck in its budget.
Fred Hoffman, council president, said that means the city will have to come up with the money out of its 2002 budget.
Scarmack said latest word on the truck delivery is that it won't be arriving until March or April.