A decision on whether to purchase a new ladder truck for the Downers Grove Fire Department was deferred by the Village Council Tuesday, June 1.

The council unanimously voted to table the issue until July 6, leaving open the possibility of taking it off the table sooner than that. The council has two more regularly scheduled council meetings in June, on June 8 and June 15.

“I fully support this. I think this is the right thing to do. My issue is that it’s almost a million-dollar purchase,” said Commissioner Sean Durkin.

Durkin said he favors taking up the potential purchase again, after late-June long-range financial planning sessions for the village have begun.

Commissioner Marilyn Schnell said she is concerned about the proposal for financing the new truck, which would be acquired through a 10-year capital lease for a purchase price of $920,386.

“My concern is not necessarily with the truck and the functions of the truck,” Schnell said. “My concern is the precedent setting of whether or not we’re going to deviate from what our policy is, which is using the replacement fund that we put money into to replace apparatus. I really need to have more of a comfort level with what we’re doing financially.”

The equipment replacement fund currently has a balance of $520,000, according to a memo from Fire Chief Jim Jackson.

Fieldman said the village can expect to get about $149,000 for the old truck, which has been out of service more than 60 days in 2010 due to maintenance issues.

“Staff recommends financing the net purchase price of $771,386. The $520,000 in prefunding

payments should remain in the equipment replacement fund. This amount along

with the accrued interest and residual value of the truck would be used to purchase a

replacement truck in approximately 10 years,” Jackson wrote in a report to the council.

Commissioner Bruce Beckman said he would be comfortable voting immediately on the truck’s purchase, but understands his colleagues concerns.

“We’re looking at a long-range acquisition here,” said Beckman, “a capital lease. We are using funds that typically are not used for this with no effective plan to replace that money on a going-forward basis.”

Commissioner Geoff Neustadt said he would vote in favor of waiting to vote on the issue, but would prefer not to wait all the way until July 6.

“Our public safety concerns are always going to be very important, at least to me, and I think to this council,” said Neustadt.

“I appreciate the need for additional time,” said Mayor Ron Sandack. “It’s an important purchase. If we can come back sooner (than July 6), we ought to.”