Officials: New cars for police uncertain

Council members said some new cars must be purchased.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- City leaders say they are committed to buying new police cars, but that commitment may have to wait until early next year.
The city last purchased a fleet of police cars in 1996. At that time, 18 were purchased. One of those vehicles was destroyed in an accident, three are now being used for spare parts, and 14 are still patrolling city streets.
Capt. John Villecco said the highest mileage on one of the vehicles is about 130,000 miles, which, he said, translates into 260,000 miles on an average family car. He said most of the vehicles are extremely rusty and getting worse.
The city spent between 26,000 and 28,000 maintaining the cars in 2006.
Police Chief Frank Bigowsky said several of the vehicles have recently shown front-end problems while on closed-course testing.
"We are fortunate that these things happened on a closed track. Had this been actual conditions, there is no telling what may have happened to those officers," he said. "I have to point out that it is the city's responsibility to provide a safe working environment."
Villecco and Bigowsky presented several members of council a plan to purchase 15 police cars at 25,000 each. The plan called for annual payments of 75,000 plus about 15,000 in interest for a total payment of about 90,000.
Here's the situation
The city, which is operating under fiscal emergency, would need permission from the state-appointed fiscal oversight commission before the cars could be purchased.
Villecco said the city would be under a 30-day deadline to order the vehicles this year under the state purchasing program. Should that deadline not be met, he said, the city would have to wait until at least October to order 2008 model vehicles under 2008 state purchasing prices.
Councilman Mike Costarella said new police cars must be purchased, but waiting until October and ordering the 2008 models would give council more time to plan.
"At the very least, we should plan for next year now," he said. "I think that is what we should do if we can get there with the cars we have now."
Auditor Sam Zirafi said waiting also would allow city officials to see how much income tax revenue is collected and how much money is available for such purchases.
"If you commit these funds now and the money does not come in, it will be up to council and the police department to determine how to make this work," he said.
Bigowsky said waiting and ordering the 2008 models is an option, but the police department would like to see some type of commitment from council that the move will be made in October in preparation for delivery in early 2008.
Costarella asked Bigowsky and Villecco to come up with a backup plan in the event the city cannot afford to purchase all 15 vehicles.
Bigowsky said the city could purchase 10 to 12 new vehicles to make sure patrolmen all have new vehicles to drive. Department vehicles are taken home by officers.
jgoodwin@vindy.com