Mayor says he’ll veto plan to buy 6 police cars at once

The mayor said the city administration must be aware of its spending.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

GIRARD — Plans to buy new police cars here may not make it past the mayor’s desk.

City council is considering legislation to buy six new police cars. Council previously set aside $150,000 to buy and outfit those cruisers.

But Mayor James Melfi said he plans to veto any purchase above three cruisers — and the cruisers purchased may not be exactly what police have said they want.

“I am going to veto this. Now, city council may override my veto, but that is OK. I am sending the message that spending here will be frugal,” he said.

Melfi said if the city’s finances remain stable, he would be in favor of purchasing an additional three cars toward the end of the year.

Capt. John Villecco, who has been researching the proposed purchase, in a meeting earlier this week told council a police car model by Dodge is most suitable for the city’s needs and likely the safest vehicle.

Council has received bid estimates for police cars made by Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge. The Chevy model was the least expensive, and the Dodge model was the most costly. Those figures could change depending on what options the city gets in the cars.

Melfi said he appreciates input from Villecco and the police department on purchasing the cars, but the department cannot tell administration what purchases to make.

“[Police] input is needed to a point, then we make the decision based on what we see as needed for this community,” he said.

Melfi said the city is eight square miles with no routine freeway patrols, so basic vehicles with a six-cylinder motor will be sufficient, as opposed to a larger motor or the more costly Dodge model Villecco said police would like. He said the savings in the initial purchase and gas would be tremendous.

Melfi said any extras that raise the cost of the cars will likely be cut as well.

The current city police cars are two-toned black and white, and officials have been debating if the new cars will carry a two-toned paint job. Melfi said painting the new cars two-tone would cost several hundred additional dollars — something he is not willing to spend the additional money to do.

Melfi said the reason he is not in favor of buying more than three cars is simply because the city still has perfectly good cruisers it can use.

The city last bought 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.

According to mileage submitted to city officials from the police department in November, four of the current vehicles have under 70,000 miles with one showing miles under 35,000. The car with the highest miles has more than 130,000.

Melfi said the three cars with the highest mileage should be replaced with the three new cars. The other vehicles, he said, should be left in service.

Melfi said his desire to be cautious in purchasing cars or any other spending stems from the city’s recent stint in fiscal emergency. He said cautious spending in the city is imperative. In 2008, the city started the year in the black for the first time in eight years.

“We should tread very slowly here. There is not a major need, despite what is being said. We just lost our major employer,” he said.

jgoodwin@vindy.com