BOARDMAN Dispute delays vehicle buying

The township has saved money with the state purchasing program.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Whether the township needs two more vehicles for the fire department is not in question, but where those vehicles should be bought is a matter of debate.
Township trustees were set to authorize the purchase of a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria from Springfield Ford of Springfield, Ohio, and a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 truck with crew cab and six-door utility body from Charlie's Dodge Inc. of Maumee, Ohio. The cost of the Ford is $19,496, and the price of the Dodge is $23,702.
Just before trustees approved the purchase Monday, a representative from a local car dealership submitted a bid asking trustees to buy the cars locally. Chris Flynn of Donnell Ford on Market Street said his dealership could beat or match the vehicle prices and the money would stay in the township.
Flynn would not give the exact price of the cars, but he said the Ford is listed under $20,000, and the truck, also a Ford, is listed under $25,000.
Trustees agree
All three trustees said they prefer to spend money locally whenever possible. Trustee Kathy Miller said it should be policy to do so. Administrator Curt Seditz, however, said the issue is not that simple.
According to Seditz, the township is part of a statewide purchasing program for vehicles and other equipment. He said the state collects bids on equipment from vendors across the state, then compiles a list of the lowest bidders for program participants to purchase from.
Seditz said the township typically buys within the purchasing program because prices are lower. He said not buying within the program could result in the township's being removed from the program altogether.
"We have done nothing but save money using the state purchasing program," he said. "Township taxpayers benefit greatly from using the state program. My recommendation is that we stick to the purchasing program."
Cruisers from Donnell
The township bought six cruisers outside the purchasing program from Donnell Ford earlier this year. Seditz said trustees had mistakenly thought they could save money on the deal as well as buy the cars locally. However, that move, said Seditz, prompted a letter from the state warning that the township could be removed from the program. He also said the cars did not have all the proper specifications.
Police Chief Jeffrey Patterson said buying within the program assures the township that the cars will have all proper specifications according to guidelines laid out by the state.
Patterson said the total cost of the six cars bought from Donnell was about $1,000 less than it would have been through the program, but the savings were taken up in shipping costs and adding equipment. The cars, he said, were missing some specifications, such as proper wiring harnesses.
Trustees tabled the purchase of the two vehicles until the next regularly scheduled meeting Dec. 15.
jgoodwin@vindy.com