Board OKs plan for fire department computers

Joe Miksch, Register Staff April 24, 2001

MILFORD — At a special meeting Monday the Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a fire department plan to apply for a federal grant to upgrade technology in the department.

If the Federal Emergency Management Agency approves the application, the fire department will buy 14 laptop computers to be installed in its vehicles and make software improvements to its existing computer system. The price of the equipment and software is $160,000. The city would be responsible for 30 percent of the tab, or $48,000, and FEMA would cover the remaining $112,000. The city’s portion would come from the capital reserve fund. The upgrade would allow firefighters to receive building layouts on their laptops, allowing for a better understanding of a burning building’s interior. "With the ability of the arriving fire apparatus, officers see the building’s interior layout, and the life safety factor of the city’s citizens and firefighters is increased dramatically," Battalion Chief Ed Beatty wrote in a letter to the board. Fire Chief Louis LaVecchia said the computers would also allow firefighters immediate access to information about hazardous materials in certain buildings. The special meeting was called because the May 2 application deadline precedes the next scheduled aldermanic meeting. Democrats on the board have previously decried the use of special meetings. Some have claimed that the Republican majority uses special meetings to slip things by them and the public, because public comment is not allowed at special meetings. Earlier this month, the 15-member board’s six-man Democratic contingent delayed a vote on accepting a 41-acre conservation easement because they felt they were not given enough time to discuss the issue before voting. But alderman Andrew Testo, D-4, said Monday’s special meeting didn’t upset him because the grant application issue was pretty straightforward. "I didn’t think (a delay) was going to happen … because it’s not really as touchy an issue as the last one was. There’s not that much money involved, either," he said. The easement, which passed after a two-hour discussion, prohibits development on 41 acres of a 57-acre parcel being purchased by the Kingdom Life Christian Church. Some Democrats suggested buying all 57 acres for $1.7 million and wanted to discuss that option before accepting the easement offer from the former owner, the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority.

©New Haven Register 2001